Surprisingly often, people think that they will know immediately if one of the pipes in their home has a leak. It is easy to imagine a pipe - or a joint that connects two sections of pipe - coming apart completely and water rushing out under high pressure. However, this is not a common occurrence. It is much more likely that you will suffer from a minor leak in a home. This is much harder to detect than a major water loss in the system. Therefore, you may need a water line leak detection professional to help you establish whether or not you really do have a problem and, if so, where it might be coming from.
In the meantime, what are the tell-tale signs that your domestic plumbing system might not be as watertight as it should be?
Listen Carefully
If you rely on your ears, then you can sometimes detect a leak even if you are not able to see it. When your taps are turned on, you should obviously hear the sound of water flowing through pipes. However, when your system is not in operation, there should be no sound at all. If you can hear any water flow, then it is likely that there is a problem somewhere in your system that has yet to you really make its mark.
Use Your Nose
Another sense you can rely on to detect a potential leak is smell. When there has been a long-term release of water into a hidden spot in your home, it can start to turn musty. Often, the first sign of a leak behind cupboards or under the floorboards comes from the presence of a distinctive damp odour. In fairness, damp smells can also occur from rainwater coming, in but if you notice them an otherwise dry spot, then it is likely to come from a leaky pipe.
Look for Residue
When looking around your home, it is important not to simply look for water forming in puddles. Relatively low levels of leaking water will evaporate quite rapidly. However, you can usually see the residue that is left behind. This might be, for example, stains that have been left behind as a result of damp patches. You can see this on things like wallpaper or carpets. If you have a leak in your kitchen or your bathroom, then this can cause vinyl flooring to bubble up or even curl away from the walls, too. Another visual indicator of a leaking pipe is the presence of mildew that has built up over time due to excessive moisture. Although this won't tell you exactly where a leak might be coming from, it will put you on the right path to tracking it down.
Learn more about water line leak detection from a local plumber.
Hello! My name is Paula and on this blog, I will be taking you on a fascinating journey through the world of plumbing. Not many people like to think about plumbing as it can seem like a very dry and boring subject. I used to think plumbing was really dull. However, once I got talking to a plumbing contractor who had called around to fit a new tap, I discovered that plumbing is, in fact, a quite fascinating subject. Since then, I have done all I can to learn as much as possible about the plumbing industry. I hope you find what I have written here useful.