Understanding How to Treat a Water Leak: 3 Components You Need to Understand. If you have noticed your water bill increasing recently, this could be a sign you are experiencing some form of water leak.
A water leak can be something as simple as a leaking tap or it can be something that you can’t see which slowly builds up over time. You might have woken up to a flooded kitchen because your washing machine and dishwasher leaked or a burst pipe causes water to pour through the ceiling.
This is why it is important to get into the right mindset of detecting water leaks and knowing what you can do about them.
Understanding the Most Common Places for a Water Leak
There are common culprits that you need to check first, and these include:
- Showerheads. You might not think that a showerhead is a major issue, but the fact is that low water pressure could be the first sign of a leak, but if your showerhead is clogged you can easily replace this.
- Toilets. We use the toilet so much, it’s not unusual for it to start leaking. If it is constantly running you may benefit from getting a specialist like Forge Plumbing to change the washers.
- Water tank or boiler. You should be able to see a leak if the valves are not working properly. Additionally, there can be signs of slow leaks, such as marks on the floor below the valve or an ongoing hissing sound. If you have a central heating boiler, you will need to contact a specialist as this is not something you cannot fix yourself.
- Appliances. Washing machines and dishwashers need regular checking because the appliances can easily shift from their original positions, which loosens pipes and valves.
How to Detect a Water Leak in the House
There are a number of ways to detect a water leak in the house. These include:
- Monitoring when the boiler comes on. If you find the boiler is always on, this could be a leak in the hot water pipe. This is not something you can usually fix yourself because they are usually underground.
- A drop in water pressure. When you are taking a shower or a bath, and the intensity is not the same as usual, this could be a sign of a leak. The best way to do this is to turn off all the fixtures and turn one back on; if you can see the pressure is higher than it was, this might be a sign of a leak.
- Monitoring your water usage on a regular basis. When you are monitoring your water usage, you should be able to spot any sudden increases you cannot account for. If you’re watering the garden or washing the car, it can be hard to spot the signs of a leak. It’s important to get into the habit of checking this water usage regularly. You could ask your supplier to send you regular statements to understand how much water you are using.
What Should You Do if You Spot a Water Leak?
The first thing everybody needs to do is work out if it is serious. If it is going to cause significant damage, we’ve got to turn off the water supply. You may notice that there’s dripping through the ceiling, and if it is near to electrics, make sure that you are not compromising your safety. This is why turning off the water supply is the best place to begin.
The standard information given by insurance providers is that if there has been a leak and the electrics are affected, you need to let them dry out for at least 24 hours, but you should also turn off the electrics as a precautionary measure. If there is a leak linked to a particular appliance, you should always contact a plumber to resolve the problem quickly and safely.
When you are unable to isolate the cause of a leak, it’s important to make sure you minimize damage. If it’s coming through the ceiling, putting a bucket under the source of the leak is one common example. If the water is still running through the ceiling and you turn off the mains, this could be a sign that the ceiling is bowing.
If the water is “caught” in the ceiling, common wisdom is to poke a small hole to let the water drain out gradually, but you’ve got to be careful that it doesn’t cause extra damage to your property. If it is a small leak that you can fix, you can turn the water off while you get the appropriate supplies, for example, getting a washer for the tap.
