Check For Water Leaks

Here are some other common places to check for leaks.

Check for water leaks.

If not the tank is leaking and you need a new water heater. You should quickly be able to see a leak. It s possible for hoses to lay in dirt or grass and drip water without the leak being visible. Then put your thumb knuckle on top of the screw driver and place that knuckle to your head just in front of your ear.

Foundation walls crack and leak when water soaks into the walls and eventually begins to drain inside of your basement. If a source cannot be found on the meter it could point to a leak on the supply line water from a leak can travel down the length of a pipe to collect in a completely different area from the leak. Check for leaks in foundation walls. If either is dripping replace the valve.

Given the right conditions water can seep into your house through the foundation walls. You ll also want to look for puddles. Some leaks are obvious such as dripping faucets and leaking water heaters. To test for leaks add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank and wait 10 minutes.

Some water bill spikes are caused by leaky appliances especially toilets so check them first. If the water meter test indicates a leak inside your home check the cabinets under the kitchen laundry and bathroom sinks to make sure they re dry. If the color shows up in your bowl then you have a leak allowing water to flow from the tank to your drain without ever flushing the bowl. The 2016 residential end uses of water study found that the average household loses about 17 gallons of water per day to indoor leaks.

To check for a toilet leak add some food coloring to the tank and let it sit for 10 minutes. If there isn t any water escaping look for signs of a slow leak including marks on the floor below the valve or a hissing sound. Check under hot water heaters for a drip. Leaks don t just happen inside the home they occur outside as well.

Leaks from pipes plumbing fixtures and fittings are a significant source of water waste for many households. Tank leaks often start slow and then suddenly burst days or weeks later causing a major household flood. If there is a leak you should hear hissing. Check for movement of the flow indicator a smaller dial on the meter face.

Any water or dampness in the meter housing could be sign of a leak. You should quickly be able to see a leak. These leaks are seldom caused by faulty plumbing. If you notice puddles near your water heater check the pressure relief valve and the drain valve.

Check outdoor hoses and be sure that they are turned off at the faucet and not just at the hand held valve.