Where to Find Water Leaks In Your Fort Lauderdale Home
Do you know how to check for water leaks in your Fort Lauderdale home? Doing so can help conserve water and save money. Finding major leaks is easy to do however, there are leaks that are hard to find. These are usually small but cannot be ignored because it still has a significant impact on your water bill.
How to Check for Water Leaks
How to Check for Water Leaks
Water leaks will not only cost you money but it can also bring major damages to your home. It can weaken your wood works and promote mold build up. It is not good to ignore these leaks. It is a waste of a lot of resources, not to mention its overall effect in our mother nature. That is why everyone is encouraged to do whatever they can to make sure that water is not being wasted.
Where to Search for Water Leaks
Water meter. The water distribution at home is metered for billing purposes. If you notice a significant change on your regular water bill and there is no additional person or water consumption in your household, it is time to check for water leaks.
You can do this simple water leak check by turning off all water faucets in the house including water connection on appliances. Make sure that no one is going to use it for awhile. Check the reading and take note on the paper for reference later and observe. If the hand or the small wheel of the meter is still spinning, you can conclude that there is probably a leak somewhere. But if the actual meter hand is moving, there is water running or major leakage somewhere in the water line. However if the hand is not moving, wait and read the meter again after 10 minutes or more. If the meter has moved, there is a minor leak.
If there is a leak, turn-off the water line valve. This is usually located behind or close to the meter box. Turn on a faucet near the meter to test. If the water comes out of the faucet despite the valve being shut-off then your valve is defective. Ideally, if the water valve is already shut-off there shouldn’t be any water that will come out of the faucet when you turn it on. Now, the water valve is shut off and there are no faucets that are turned on. Under this condition check again the meter’s hand if it is moving or not. If it is, there is water leakage between the meter and the shut off valve. If not, the leak may be somewhere inside the house. Thoroughly check the toilets, faucets, washing machine, water tanks and others.
Check Your Toilets and Dishwashers for Leakages
Toilets. Toilet leaks are often ignored especially on the pipe behind the toilet sink that has unnoticeable slow dripping. Check all pipes behind the bowl and flappers on the tank for any leaks and immediately repair. It will save you a hundred gallons a day per leak.
To check leaks on the toilet, add a reasonable amount of food coloring on the water tank and wait. After 20 – 30 minutes, if the color is mixed on the water on the bowl, check the flapper and replaced with a new one.
Dishwasher. To check water leakage on your dishwasher, you will need several sheets of paper placed underneath the machine before operating it. When the machine stops, check the sheets of paper you placed underneath to see it they are wet. If so, call a maintenance person to repair the leak immediately. It is important also for you to remember that regular dishwasher uses 15 gallons on every wash load. Make sure that when you use it, the load is full.
Washing Machine. Inspect your washing machine hose and the machine itself. Same procedure with the dishwasher, place the papers underneath and do your laundry. Any sign of wet parts on the paper is a sign that there are leaks on the machine. It is also highly advisable to check the external hose for any dripping as well as any loose connection on the faucet.
Hot Water Tank. Check the pressure relief valve. This is often found on the plumbing directly near the drain. Try listening on the pipe for hissing sound. This indicates a possible leak somewhere on the pipe. Checking leakages regularly not only it saves you money on bills and house repairs but you are also helping and contributing on saving the environment.
However, if you want the most experienced and professional plumbing service that is hassle free, contact Douglass Orr Plumbing or browse through their website at www.OrrPlumbing.com and discover how these guys work. Backed by 35 years of plumbing experience with thoroughness, aided with high end equipment so they can guarantee quality service that will absolutely top other Plumbing Services. So Just contact them and they will surely find a solution to your problem if you don’t know how to check for water leaks.
