Water leaks in your home are a headache. Sometimes they are obvious, like a dripping pipe or leaking toilet. Other times you may only know that you have a leak because your water bill is inexplicably high. Here are a few things to do if you have a water leak.
Shut Off the Water
If you think that you have a water leak somewhere in your house, the first step you should take is to turn off the water. There are different ways to do that. If you know the leak is under your kitchen sink, you can turn the water off at the sink shut off valves. If you are not sure where the leak is, you should turn off the main water for your house to prevent any more damage while you search for the leak.
Find the Leak
After you’ve turned off the water, you want to turn on the faucets to let any water still in the pipes out so you can search for the leak. One way to find a water leak is to conduct a plumbing smoke test. This test uses a machine to force smoke through the plumbing system to detect where the leak is. The smoke is a visible method of finding what could be a tiny hole in your pipe.
Make the Repair
After you’ve found the leak, it’s time to repair it. Depending on the type of leak and the level of your plumbing skills, you might be able to do the repair yourself. Plumbing guides and videos are online and home improvement stores can offer advice. If you don’t want to take the responsibility of the repair on yourself, contact a professional for an assessment and quote.
Plumbing leaks are a fact of life. Pipes and fixtures don’t last forever and if you live in an older home, plumbing leaks can be a common occurrence. Make sure to repair them quickly to save your wallet and to conserve water. Leaks are not the end of the world and relatively easy to fix.
