How do I know if my pipes are leaking under my floor?
Hidden plumbing leaks can be a significant concern. They increase your water bill, cause mold and mildew growth, and damage your home. If you notice your water bill has spiked without a change in usage, you might have a hidden leak.
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Melbourne, FL, we help homeowners identify leaks early. Concerned you may have a leak somewhere? Here’s what to look for and how to respond quickly.
Signs of Leaking Pipes
Your plumbing is a hidden network running through your entire house. The pipes are everywhere: in your walls, floors, and even your yard. The tricky part is that when something goes wrong, you might not see it right away. But your home will definitely try to tell you something’s up.
Want to know the telltale signs? Think about warped floors (they’re like nature’s warning system), high water bills, a decrease in water pressure, musty smells that won’t go away, or other unexplained water damage. These are all your house’s way of saying, “Hey, something’s not right down here!”
How to Detect Leaks
1. Monitor Your Water Meter
Turn off everything that uses water in your house, then check your meter (usually outside or in a yard pit). If that dial is still dancing when everything’s off, you’ve got yourself a leak. The faster it moves, the bigger the problem.
2. Test Toilets and Appliances
This is where a lot of sneaky leaks hide out. Let’s start with toilets since they’re often the biggest culprits. That food coloring test I mentioned? It’s super simple but incredibly reliable. Just squeeze a few drops of any food coloring you have in your kitchen into the toilet tank (the back part). Don’t flush! Wait about 15 minutes. If you come back and see even a hint of color in the bowl, your toilet’s secretly running water down the drain.
The toilet can leak in other ways, too. Get down there with a flashlight and inspect the base where it meets the floor. Feel around with your hand (with gloves on, of course!) for any dampness. If the floor near your toilet feels spongy or the caulking is discolored, that’s your toilet telling you something’s not quite right.
Your dishwasher and washing machine can be pretty sneaky, too. Pull them out from the wall if you can (safely!) and check those water supply lines. They should be firm and flexible, not brittle or cracked. Listen carefully when they’re running; any unusual dripping or splashing sounds are red flags.
3. Examine Visible Pipes
Don’t forget to peek under your sinks. I know it’s not the most glamorous job, but move all those cleaning supplies out of the way and feel around the pipes. Even a little dampness could mean trouble is brewing.
4. Look for Damage to Floors, Walls, and Ceilings
Your house itself can be vocal about water problems if you know what to look for. Noticed any warped floors lately? Wallpaper peeling off? Is paint doing weird, bubbly things? These are all ways your house is waving red flags at you. And here’s something people often miss – if you find a random warm spot on your floor, that could be a hot water pipe saying hello in the worst way possible.
5. Check for Outdoor Leaks
The outside of your home can tell tales, too. Ever notice a patch of grass that’s weirdly lush compared to the rest? Or a spot in your yard that feels like a waterbed? That could be an underground leak.
6. Notice Odd Smells and Sounds
If you’re getting musty vibes that won’t quit, that could be mold throwing a house party thanks to a hidden leak. Don’t ignore those funky smells, even if you can’t see any obvious problems. This can be a telltale sign of a slab leak.
If you hear dripping or the sound of running water with no explanation, this is often a sign of hidden water leaks. Professional plumbers have the tools needed to detect a water leak.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for Punctual, Expert Assistance
If any of this sounds familiar, give us a call at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Melbourne, FL. Our expert leak detection services will help track down these hidden troublemakers before they can do serious damage to your home and your wallet.