Water leaks can result in major problems in your property, especially when it’s left unnoticed. Hidden water leaks can cost you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars yearly! This is because, in addition to your water bills rising, the water damage costs increase the more you leave the leaks to become a more serious issue.

That’s why you need to monitor your plumbing and watch out for any signs for hidden leaks you can repair immediately. Read on as I show you the different ways you can detect hidden leaks in the plumbing.

How to Detect Hidden Leaks In the Plumbing

You don’t need to be an absolute expert in your plumbing to know if you have a hidden leak. Watch out for these signs that indicate hidden leaks so you can head to a plumber Brisbane to have it repaired immediately!

1. Monitor the Water Meter and Bills

The best way to tell if there are any water leaks is to check your water meter. Switch off all the water in the house, shutting off all faucets and ensuring no appliance is running. Watch the meter and see if it changes. 

If it changes, then there is a quick-moving leak. If not, check back after two hours, and when you notice changes, it indicates a slow leak.

Check your water bills as well, as a rising water bill despite having similar washing habits can indicate a leak. Compare previous water bills and see if there is a steady increase. You can also check your water usage to see if it looks like the household has been using even more water lately even without changing anything.

2. Check the Faucets

The source of water leaks can come from your faucets, usually coming from worn rubber washes. Check if there are any leaks from the faucet, or if you can, open it up and see if you see anything wrong. Fortunately, you can easily replace and repair faucet parts yourself with the proper knowledge and equipment you can find from hardware stores. 

3. Detect Water Leaks From the Toilet

Another culprit is the toilet, and a leak one can waste hundreds of gallons of water! Check if there’s a leak by adding a few drops of food coloring to its tank. You can also use dye tabs from the hardware store.

Allow the coloring to saturate the water, waiting for half an hour without flushing. If colors come through the tank and to your toilet bowl, there may be a leak.

Furthermore, your toilet may have a leak if you have to jiggle its handle to avoid the toilet from running. There may be an issue with the chain sticking and/or flush bar. If you find that you’re facing any of these issues with your toilet, then you’re best getting in touch with a professional like those at Morris Jenkins to come and fix the problem for you.

4. Visual Inspections

You can perform a visual inspection of your home beyond your usual appliances, faucets, and toilet. Leaks that come from plumbing inside your walls or ceiling go unnoticed usually and only repaired when it’s too late. You can stop these leaks with simple regular visual inspections. 

Check the walls and ceiling of all the rooms. If there are unusual discolorations or staining, there might be a leak. Also watch out for any mold or strange dips form the walls or ceiling, which is also a cause from water leaking.

5. Underground and Exterior Water Leaks

Outdoor and underground water leaks are costly to repair, so watch out if some areas of your yard are softer or darker than the rest, or unusual water flow from the driveway. If one area stays wet despite dry spells or puddles that look out of place, this indicates underground leaks.

6. It’s Common Sense!

Besides the tips mentioned above, you can also check other parts of your home. You should be more vigilant if you have a home that’s over 25 years old. The plumbing system is already on the declining stage of its life expectancy by that time. 

Regularly check the backs of your cabinets, as well as under basins if there are any foul smells or mold, which indicate leaks. Check the connections of your water heater, pumps, washing machine, dishwashers, and other appliances for discoloration or oxidation, another sign of slow leaking.

Wrapping It Up

When you detect water leaks early, you can save a lot of money and prevent disaster at home! Fortunately, it isn’t that difficult to detect leaking, whether hidden or not. You simply need knowledge and time to monitor your water and plumbing performance. 

I hope that these ways to detect hidden leaks in the plumbing helped you out! Don’t wait any longer and take a look at your plumbing and water flow to see if your home may have hidden leaks.

Would you like to ask any questions or share your knowledge of hidden water leaks? Share it in the comments section below, all your thoughts are much appreciated!