Home Water Leaks Are Common, Don’t Leave Them Be

The average homeowner doesn’t realize how common it is that a water leak occurs in a home.  According to the EPA, the average household’s leaks can be more than 10,000 gallons of water that is waste each year.  With household leaks accounting for that much water wasted, it is essential that a homeowner frequently checks their home’s plumbing and appliances for any leaks that may occur.

Not only can these water leaks waste water, but it can also cause damage to your property if left unfixed.  Luckily, there are some easy things you can do in order to point out an issue.

An easy way to check leaks in any home is to make sure no water is being used for a 2 hour period.  If your water meter moves during that period then you have a water leak somewhere on the property.  Leaks can occur all over the home, toilets, faucets, appliances, water irrigation, and plumbing all can have leaks that sometimes may be hard to notice.

 

Faucets and showerheads are one of the most common leaks found in a home, a drip of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.  Checking all of the washers and gaskets in a faucet and showerhead is a quick and easy way to find out if there is a leak in the fixture.  Toilets typically will leak from the toilet flapper, allowing water to continuously flow through the toilet.

Leak detection from plumbing pipes is a bit tougher to detect, it is best to call in a professional that handles leak detection using infrared technology and moisture meter readings to detect possible plumbing leaks.  With this type of service, it will outline where plumbing leaks may be happening based on the temperature and moisture meter readings of a wall or flooring.  Under-sink plumbing can be easily checked by looking over the seals attached to the sink for any water or staining.

 

In all of these cases, a water leak can not only cause wasted water but also damage to the property if left unattended.  The unattended water leak can begin to grow mold in as little as 48 hours depending on the situation in a home.  Early detection is the key, so please check your home often for water leaks.