For years, everyone has understood the importance of reducing the impact on the environment by being aware and how we use its resources. And, with the current economic situation, it makes much more sense to save as much as possible to save money every month while paying our utility bills. Those troublesome water leaks that show up without warning, and frequently unnoticed until it is much too late, are one of the main culprits that can rob you of extra money every month and exhaust the local supply. We’ll show you two strategies for identifying and handling these leaks, and when it’s time to call in a professional.
The Old Fashioned Way
The majority of the population will not realise they have a problem until they get the monstrous water bill in the mail. It could be too late by then, or it may be fixable if they take water leak detection seriously enough to go out and do some detective work and identify the cause.
The first step is to look and hear for water leaks to pinpoint where they are occurring. Your best bet is to look for leaks room by room. Check for leaks in the showerhead, faucet, and toilet tank, starting with the bathroom. Check to see how the water travels from the tank to the bowl without being flushed first to decide if the issue is with the toilet. You can have water escaping from the tank if there are ripples on the surface of the water in the tub. You may also measure it by adding a few drops of food colouring to the drink. Leave and return in five to ten minutes. You have a leaking tank if the colour has migrated to the bowl.
The next step is to look for signs in water-using appliances. If you haven’t detected a leak after checking all the drains and faucets in your home, it’s time to inspect all the appliances that are directly attached to your water supply. Dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters all fall under this category. There have been several instances of high energy bills caused by a blown seal in a washing machine or water heater that went unnoticed for months and could have been easily avoided with a quick visit from a plumber.
Look for two items when inspecting equipment for the possibility of water leakage: standing water and a musty odour. This section will require you to get down on your hands and knees; no one said it would be easy. Just the smallest amount of standing water could mean that you have water leaking from your water heater or washing machine, and if it is near the wiring, it could be unsafe to leave it alone. Mould starting to emerge in the damp spots and the musty odour is a sure indication and something has to be done about it before it gets worse. Now is the time to call an expert.
Found no water leaks inside your home? Time to inspect outside your property.
You will see springy and damp areas of ground if there is a pipe leak in either of the connecting pipes from your water supply to your house. When water spills from the city drain, the ground would be soaked but not necessarily sodden with water lying on it, unlike when a septic tank leaks. Furthermore, there may be no odour associated with it. It’s time to contact a plumber to see if the leak can be fixed on your dime or the city.
Use Modern Technology to Your Advantage
You should add one of two kinds of leak monitoring systems in your home to avoid future water leakage. Stand-alone battery units with a moisture sensor are the first kind, which is passive. The active version will sound a warning and switch off the water supply if a leak occurs.
If you want to learn more about how to keep your home safe from water leaks? Or Need a professional plumber to detect potential water leaks in your home? The experts at J.O. Plumbing professionals are here to assist you in Melbourne to help you prevent damage to your home in whatever way they can.
