Here are a few tips to find out if you have a water leak in your home

Over time water pipes can fail because of age, cold winter weather, and many other factors.  This can especially be true in the Plumas, Lassen and Tehama areas.  It can be frustrating when a homeowner discovers a leaky pipe. Sometimes it can be difficult finding those small pesky leaks, which, over time, can cause damage and increase utility bills. It is important to find and repair any leaking water pipes early.  Doing so can save you money and help to avoid costly damage to your walls, flooring and other parts of your home or property.  Here are some signs that you may have a leak and should consider hiring a professional plumber.

No Water Pressure

Low water pressure can be annoying. There are number of factors that can cause low water pressure.  If low water pressure is only coming from the hot water outlets, this might indicate an issue with your water heater or a potential under-slab leak.  Little to no water pressure on both the cold and hot water sides of your water system may indicate a more severe leak, a problem with your well equipment, sediment build-up in your plumbing fixtures, or maybe a malfunction with your water filtration system.  Any one of these scenarios can be quite difficult to remedy and you may want  to consider calling a professional plumber.

Visually Inspect all Fixtures in the Home  

Visual inspection of your plumbing is the number one thing a homeowner can do to prevent costly damage from a leak.  Routinely check all accessible locations within your home that have plumbing fixtures. Make sure all faucets are closing properly and that the surrounding areas are not showing signs of a leak or mildew. If only one faucet in your home has low water pressure, this might indicate there is a water leak, a clogged screen from sediment build up, or you’re beginning to see signs of frozen pipes.

Make sure you check the toilet in each bathroom.  Is there a noticeable sound of water dripping or running? Remove the top lid on the toilet and listen for any noise.  Sometimes the flapper is not properly seated and may require replacement.  A little handy trick is to place a few drops of food dye into the top tank.  After an hour or two look to see if the color is showing in the bowl. This can usually indicate that your toilet tank is leaking through into the bowl.  A continuously running toilet can drastically increase your water bill and also lead to the premature failure of your septic system’s drain field.

Also, make sure that you check the water shutoffs underneath each of the sinks and toilet. Look for moisture or mildew. Be sure to check the walls and floor for evidence of an intermittent leak that may indicate a leaking pipe inside the wall or under the floor.  A water stained or soft and spongy floor or wall can indicate there is a leak.

Your Water Bill has Increased

Another important step in finding a possible water leak is to check your service meter.  This can help you determine if your water usage has gone up over time.  The first thing you need to do is determine if your daily water usage has not increased from such things as a broken sprinkler head or misadjusted irrigation timer. This can be especially true with seasonal homes in the Lake Almanor or Quincy CA. areas.  Make sure you consider any changes in use before turning your attention to a possible leak.  Once you have ruled out an increase in consumption, you can turn your attention to hunting for that leak.  Make sure all faucets are turned off and stop any appliances that require water.  If the indicator dial at your meter is still running after an hour or so, this might be a sign that you have a leak somewhere on the property.

I Know I Have a Water Pipe Leak, but Cannot Find it.  What Next?

If a leak is not showing any evidence of its location, hiring a professional plumber can be a cost effective solution to your problem.  Water leaks under a slab or deep within the ground may be difficult to detect. We can pin-point the location of your hidden leak with accuracy and without the expense of hunt-and-peck style demolition. Our minimally invasive service can reduce property damage and restoration costs.  Locating leaks non-destructively requires the use of modern tools such as electronic amplification equipment, electromagnetic pipeline locators, and infrared imaging. With the proper equipment, leaks can be found and repaired with minimal disruption to property. In many cases, only a single floor tile needs to be removed and replaced.

We will coordinate with your insurance company during all phases of construction to ensure your leak is repaired in a timely manner and make sure your building returns to its original condition.

Does your home in Lake Almanor, Quincy or Susanville areas have a water leak?  Call Slusher Plumbing Cooling Heating Electric at 530-258-3474 or schedule plumbing service online