How To Become A Leak Detective!

It’s a good day; you wake up and head over for a shower, but there is a puddle on the floor. You live alone.

The culprit is not a smelly ghost. Instead, it may just be a leak.

Instead of calling mom, armed with the right knowledge you can easily spot where the leak is and figure out what’s causing it. If you can’t, there is always the option of calling a plumbing service.

What to look for

Water Stains: These are the most obvious indicators of leaks, whether on ceilings, floors or walls, these are a sign of major trouble.

Mold: If the mold refuses to go away, it is usually a clear indication that there is a consistent water leak somewhere in the house.

Rocky fixtures: If your toilet is rocky when moved against, this will indicate a possible breakage of the wax seal and eventually lead to a leak or something worse.

Another cause could be a loose faucet; this faucet will eventually leak and can affect your kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Odor: Funky odors mean the water leak is damaging something or causing mold. This can also indicate that the leak has been there for some time. This is a bad sign because the damage can be to cabinets and ceiling before you notice it.

Escalating Water bills: This can happen over weeks or months.

Water meter reading: It is important to keep an eye on the water meter reading. Turn off the water for a few hours and check if the reading is still increasing. This usually indicates an internal leak.

Sound of water: If you hear the sound of water continuously and can’t find a source then this can indicate a leak.

Where to Look

Kitchen and Bathroom: Look under cabinets and use a flashlight to detect moisture on joints. Any corrosion of pipes and valves can indicate a leak too. Take out everything from the cabinet and inspect the floor for any dampness or mold. You should also look out for peeling material.

Floors, Walls and Ceilings: Check the areas around water appliances. Also check the ceilings right under rooms that use water a lot like kitchens, toilets and laundry rooms. Stains, bubbling and peeling paint can all indicate leaks.

Basements: The easiest to inspect is basements because the fixtures are usually exposed. You can easily spot mold and rotten wood. This can tell you both the specific and general location of a leak.

What to do once the mission is over?

Call an experienced plumber and call them immediately. The longer you let the leak survive, the worse it is likely to get. You can shut off the main valves to prevent water flow from damaging anything and clear out the area as best as you can.

For plumbing solutions in Mission Bay and Boca Raton, get in touch with us! We provide emergency services to prevent as much damage as possible. We can carry out a full inspection for leak detection and carry out repair within the same day! Give us a ring (561-403-1500).