Water leaks can cause serious damage to your home if not addressed in a timely manner. Dripping faucets, puddles around appliances and a musty smell are all signs that you have a leak.
If you suspect a leak, start by checking the water meter. If it reads even when all of the water in your house is shut off, you have a leak somewhere between the meter and your home.
Faucets
A dripping faucet may seem like a minor nuisance, but it can cost you hundreds of dollars in water bills and repairs. This is because water leaks, even from small faucets, add up over time and cause water damage to bathtubs, sinks and more.
The most common source of household leaks are kitchen and bathroom faucets. They can be caused by general wear and tear, debris build-up or over-tightening the valve. Leaky faucets can also be a sign of more serious plumbing problems, such as an aging pipe or corroded fixtures.
A faucet has a circular opening on one side and a rubber stopper on the other. The rubber stopper is held in place by a screw. This screw is an example of mechanical advantage: it reduces the force needed to hold back water by converting torque into linear motion.
Toilets
While toilets may not be as obvious a source of water leaks as faucets, they can be just as dangerous. A leaking toilet can lead to hundreds of gallons of wasted water and astronomical utility bills. In addition, a running toilet can damage woodwork and flooring beneath it in no time.
Toilets are the primary sanitation device for people around the world. Effective sanitation systems prevent fecal matter from contaminating drinking water supplies, and can dramatically reduce the spread of disease (such as cholera).
Check your toilet tank periodically for leaks. To test a toilet for a leak, place food coloring in the tank and watch to see if any color appears in the bowl without flushing. If there is a leak, the problem can often be fixed by simply tightening a screw or replacing a rubber flapper.
Washing Machines
Washing machines may not seem like a source of serious household leaks, but they can cause thousands of dollars in water damage. The hoses that supply washing machines and other appliances with water can become loose and develop leaks, or the pipes themselves can rupture as they expand and contract with rapid temperature fluctuations.
If you notice a puddle of water forming under your washing machine, turn off the water leading into and out of the laundry room, mop up any excess water, and call
for plumbing repair services. Leak detection and prevention are the best ways to lower your water bills and avoid costly repairs in the future. Taking these preventative steps can keep common household leaks from becoming catastrophes. Inspecting and identifying leaks is a great way to prevent a lot of further damages. Sometimes, leaks are a lot more intense than one suspects so consider hiring a plumber in Canberra to assist with fixing these problems.
Hoses
The flexible rubber hoses that connect sinks, toilets and washing machines to water pipes can develop leaks over time. They are often the source of water stains on ceilings or walls and can also cause damage to the foundation when left unattended.
The hose’s internal diameter, known as the hose ID, is measured in inches, while its pressure rating, or psi, is indicated on the packaging. The bigger the hose, the more it can carry and the greater its psi capacity will be.
A leaking hose can be detected by turning off all the faucets in the house, then checking the water meter. The meter should read zero, but if it continues to drip, you have a leaky hose. Hoses that are worn or damaged should be replaced.
Floors
The last thing you want is for your basement or crawl space to become a waterlogged mess. The longer a leak goes on, the more damage it can do to your personal belongings and the building materials that make up your home. If you have a musty smell in your home, notice changes on your water meter or see warped flooring near a drain or fixture, call a plumber right away to take care of those pesky leaks before they cause major problems.
