We get a good number of calls from customers who suspect they have a water leak somewhere because their water bill has gone up. Before you hire a plumber to do an electronic leak detection there are a few things you might want to check on your own.
1. Check all faucets and hose bibs for drip and leaks. Don’t forget to check under all faucets too. If your house is on a crawl space, poke your head under there to see if you see any water.
2. A running toilet is usually the main cause of most high water bills. It is a good idea to dye test you toilets. A leaking toilet can really run up a water bill and go undetected for a long time.
3. Check your water heater’s temperature and pressure relief valve. When they go bad they can constantly leak water.
Ok, so you have checked all your plumbing fixtures and you can’t find the leak. You suspect that there must be a leak underground. Turn off the main water valve inside your home. Then go outside to your water meter. If the dial is still spinning you may have a water leak underground.
Write down the numbers from your meter. Wait a few hours and check the numbers again. If the numbers have changed you have a leak.
At this point it is best to call a plumber to locate and repair the leak. The plumber can use an electronic leak detector to listen for the pressurized water leak underground. Once the plumber pinpoints the leak he can give you an estimate for repair.
Remember leaks don’t fix themselves, they only get bigger so it is best to locate and repair any leaks when they are found.
If you need help locating a water leak in your home, yard or under the slab call your Charleston or Summerville plumber.
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