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5 methods of leak detection

plumbing blog

Published By: admin

Most commonly, the water going to your house is measured by invoicing and accountability. A leak is very an expensive problem for any homeowner to deal with. Luckily, thanks to a few simple methods, you can find even the smallest leak, and avoid unpleasant surprises from your water bill.

If you discover that you have water running somewhere – here are some actions that you can take before calling a plumber. The more you do, the less it will cost you in the long run.

Method 1 Leak detection Leak detection: 5 methods

Check the pressure relief valve on the hot water tank. Sometimes these valves are installed, and when directly into the drain, they can leak and you may not be aware. If you can’t remove the drain pipe for leak detection, listen for any possible hissing. If this is the case, then you have a leak.

Method 2

Check the toilet bowl for leaks by removing the lid from of the tank and listening very carefully. If you hear a hiss, try to determine where the sound is comimg from. Once the leak is detected, analyze the issue and determine if you can fix it. If you can not it, call a plumber.

  • If you do not see or hear anything obvious, take food coloring and add a couple drops of dye to the tank (not the toilet itself). Wait a couple of minutes, and if the toilet starts to color, then you have a problem with the valve at the bottom of the tank, through which the water flows. Now you can decide whether you want to fix everything yourself, or call a plumber.
  • If you do not see or hear anything obvious, take food coloring and add a of couple drops of into the tank (not the toilet itself). Wait a couple of minutes afterwards, and if the water changes color you have a problem with the valve at the bottom of the tank. This is where the water flows. You can decide whether you want to fix everything yourself, or call a plumber.
    If you have several toilets, repeat this process with each of them too check for other problems.

Method 3

If the toilet is fine, check the pipeline from the meter to your house. Although this can be quite difficult, you’ll save a lot of money if you can determine the location of the leak.

  • If there is a valve near your house, close it for a while and check the counter by removing the cover and checking the indicators.
  • If you can’t see the counter, try cleaning it of any possible dirt and grass. When you find it and close the valve, take a look at the counter and see if it turns. If so, the flow is somewhere between the meter and your house.
  • Walk from the counter to the check valve. Look for any indications of a leak such as soft earth or more green grass growing faster than the rest. If you find one of the above, call a plumber or determine if you can fix it yourself. Close the valve near the house and the counter stopped spinning, the leak is somewhere in the house.

If you closed the valve near the house and the counter stopped spinning, then the leak is somewhere in the house. Try other methods to detect the problem.

Method 4

Find a leak in the house. To do this, you need to find all the faucets (mixer is the most common tap at the sink, if you didn’t know). Usually, in the house one mixer stands in front of the house, and one more behind that. Once you find them all, read on.

  • When you find them all, take a screwdriver and attach the metal end of the screwdriver to the metal part of the mixer. Place your thumb on the screwdriver, and then put your fist on the side of your head, just in front of your ear. The sound will go directly to your ear. This method works similarly to a doctors stethoscope. It’s also suitable for most metal valves.
  • Listen for sounds coming from the mixer. If you hear something, remember where the sound comes from (mark the location for future reference) and go to the next mixer. If the sound gets louder with each subsequent mixer, then the leak is near this mixer. Remember this mixer and call a plumber. By calling a plumber, you will save a great amount of time in the search for the leak.
  • If you have examined each mixer and have not heard any sound, go into the house and, use the same method with a screwdriver, check other plumbing equipment, such as a mixer in the sink, valves on the shower, washing machine, heater (do not scald yourself when you check the heater ). If you don’t find anything, call the plumber.

Method 5

Check the garden. Inspect the cranes, hoses and irrigation system.
Inspect the shower head for leaks. If this is the place of leakage, you can easily fix everything.
If you have a swimming pool, it is very important to also check it for possible leaks.

Advice

If you can determine the common place of leakage, a plumber can establish an exact location using a special listening device.

Warnings

Never dig if you do not know the exact location. This is unsafe, and you will lead to you hurting yourself both physically and financially. If you are not sure of yourself, call an expert or your local plumber!

  • If you think the leak is in the water heater, call a specialist. Do not use the screwdriver method. You could touch the wires or puncture the tank.
  • If you still found a leak and decided to unearth it, do not forget to contact your utilities to mark on their site the lines of their services!
  • If you decide to fix the leak in the toilet yourself, first find out the age of your home. You may find that after fixing one leak, because of old gaskets, washers, and rubber bands, others will appear.

What you need

  • Screwdriver
  • Tool kit (optional)
  • Internet or telephone directory to call plumbing. Ask other people about the familiar good plumbing. You can view the sites on which there is a rating of workers.