Do you have a hunch that water is leaking somewhere in your house? You need to detect the leak source and repair it as soon as possible to prevent water damage. The professionals at Cleaning and Restoration Specialists can help if you have damage from a leak in your home.
TESTING FOR LEAKS
You can check for leaks yourself before calling for professional help. Just don’t wait to complete these tests if you think water may be leaking. These are the steps to take before giving us a call.
Check Your Water Meter
Take a look at your water meter, which is usually located outside your home. Make sure no one inside your home is using the water. Look at the leak indicator dial on the water meter. If it is moving, you probably have a leak.
Record the time that you first looked at the leak indicator. Wait a few hours while not using water in your home, then look at the leak indicator again. If you see a change in the reading, you can be certain there is a leak.
Find the Leak Location
You need to determine whether the leak is inside or outside your home. Do this by shutting the main water valve off inside your home. Make sure that no one tries to use water inside or outside your home. Then check the leak indicator on the water meter again.
If the meter reading doesn’t change, or if the leak indicator stops moving, the leak is located inside. If the leak indicator keeps moving, it shows that the leak is located outside. In this case, investigate the water connection between the water meter and your home for problems.
COMMON AREAS FOR LEAKS
There are several different areas where leaks are likely to occur. When looking for a leak inside your home, check all these places out. These are the most common areas where leaks happen.
Faucets
If you have a leaky faucet, it is most likely due to a washer that is worn out. You can easily replace a worn washer with tools from your local home improvement center. If you’d rather not do it yourself, call a plumber for help.
Toilets
Toilet leaks are harder to detect, but they waste a lot of water. They can also cause serious damage to your floors and subfloors. You can check for leaks by lifting the lid on the toilet tank and putting a few drops of food coloring in the water. In 30 minutes, check to see if any of the color has migrated to the toilet bowl. This will indicate a leak that can be repaired with a simple kit or a plumber’s help.
Pipes
Try to follow a line of water back to its source, which can show you the area that needs repair. You may also notice discoloration, warping, or damp areas. You need to schedule a repair as soon as possible to avoid expensive damage control.
CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP
When you have taken these first steps and can’t fix the problem yourself, call us at (210) 610-5481. We can look for leaks and help clean up any water damage that has occurred. Your best bet is to contact us as soon as you suspect a problem.
