Seven Ways to Find Water Leaks in Your Home

How to  find water leaks in your home – 7 top ways

If you suspect a water leak in your Rockville Centre, NY, home, call Pride Plumbing Services right away at 516-591-3807. 

Some water leaks in your home are immediately apparent—like when water is seeping out of a toilet ring or forming large puddles under your dishwasher. Potentially even more destructive, though, are smaller leaks. They happen under the surface and eat away at the structure of your home. 

If you’re wondering how to find a water leak in your home, here are some things to monitor and tips about how to test for signs of a leak.

1. Watch Water Bills

It’s important to take a look at your water bill each time it arrives. Check that what you owe is in line with your regular monthly payment. If it’s higher than usual (and you haven’t used excess water by filling up pools or installing a new irrigation system), you could have a water leak in your home.

2. Test Your Meter

Checking your water meter periodically can save you money. Before it gets to the point where you need to pay for it, check your usage on your water meter. You can typically find it in the basement, if you have one, or by the water heater or kitchen sink, if you don’t. 

     a. Shut off your home’s main water supply

     b. Make note of the meter reading

     c. Check the meter reading again in about two hours

If it’s higher than the initial reading, you have a leak. 

3. Check Appliances

Check your dishwasher, washing machine, and water heater. You may need to get down on your knees with a flashlight to look underneath each appliance to see if the floor looks wet. You can check the user manuals for the appliance to see how to repair common leaks. 

4. Inspect Your Plumbing

If a leaky appliance isn’t the culprit, start checking your faucets, toilets, and showerheads. You may need to turn down the TV or fan so you can listen for a drip. 

5. Follow Your Nose

You can first find a water leak by following your nose. The smell is the first sign of mold because it grows best in enclosed spaces with excessive humidity and little airflow — spaces we don’t look at every day. If a musty aroma is tickling your nose, start opening cabinets in your kitchen and bathrooms. When you get to the one that’s water damaged, the smell should be fairly strong, once exposed. 

6. Install a Leak Detector 

Your water leak may not happen with a gush or a drip—it could be a steady flow that oozes out or up from a floor drain. A leak like this can cause loss of property if you’re not immediately aware. Strategically place water alarms on the floor around appliances or near a drain. As soon as water hits the sensor, an alarm sounds to notify you immediately so you can turn off your main supply and prevent further water damage.

7. Get a Pro Plumbing System Audit

Contact a licensed plumber to inspect your home’s plumbing, inside and out. If you have an irrigation system, a plumber can check that, too. Plumbing leaks can be sneaky and easy to miss by the untrained eye.

If you need help on how to find a water leak in your house, call our team at Pride Plumbing at 516-591-3807 for water leak detection and repair in Nassau County, NY, today.

Published: Jun 25, 2021