Blogs from July, 2020

Even a small plumbing leak can have big consequences if not handled quickly or properly. However, how do you know you have a leak? Most small leaks are extremely difficult to spot, particularly if they’re hidden somewhere that you can’t see or at least don’t pay attention to all that regularly. Fortunately, while locating a leak can be a pretty big hassle, figuring out whether or not you have a leak is actually really easy. In fact, it’s so easy the average person can do it themselves with no additional training and nothing more than maybe one or two simple tools that they probably have in their toolbox already.

Here is a simple step by step guide on how to test to see if you have a leak somewhere in your water line system.

Step-By-Step Water Meter Leak Detection

Don’t think you would be able to detect a problem with one of your plumbing lines? Think again. By following these simple instructions, there’s a good chance you could find out if you have a leak somewhere in your water line system. When you know, you can call for help as soon as possible.

Step 1: Shut Off All Water-Using Appliances & Fixtures.

Your home is packed with different things that utilize a connection to your water lines, including appliances like an icemaker, reverse osmosis machine, or dishwasher. You also have water taps like your shower, your bathtub, your sinks, and even your outdoor faucets and taps. Your irrigation even draws from your main water connection too. Whatever you have, you need to go around your home, find these devices, and shut them all off. For sinks and toilets, this means turning off the connection valve that’s usually connected directly to the water line. In some cases, you may need a plumber’s wrench or an adjustable wrench to do it, but in most cases, you should simply be able to turn a lever or handle on the knob in order to close the valve completely.

Step 2: Locate Your Water Meter

Your water meter is typically located under a cover on the sidewalk immediately in front of your home. If you don’t have a sidewalk or you don’t have this cover, it could also be located under a cover on a lawn or in a planter near the street. Simply lift this cover and you should see a few small pipes as well as a meter that should tell you how much water is flowing through it at any given point.

Step 3: Check Your Meter for Activity

After double-checking to make sure that absolutely everything in your home has been shut off, check your water meter to see if it’s still turning. If your meter is completely stationary, then your plumbing system is probably okay (more on that in a moment). If you still see your meter turning, even very slowly, then you have a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. At this point, leave everything shut off and call a professional for high-quality leak detection services.

That’s it. That’s all you need to know about how to find out if you have a leak in your plumbing lines.

Look Out for Other Signs of a Water Line Issue as Well

There’s one small flaw in this particular form of leak detection: it does not necessarily tell you if you have a leak in one of your hot water lines. All of your hot water lines stem from your water heater, and your water heater draws water from your main water supply. However, if you shut off your main water supply, the water in your water heater tank could continue to feed a leaking pipe. Furthermore, the pressure detection test will show that your plumbing is sealed because your main water line that is connected to your water heater will be completely closed off.

Thus, you’ll need to keep an eye out for other signs of a leak in this case. The easiest one is to walk around your house barefoot and feel for any signs of unexplained warmth or heat. This is often a sign that one of your hot water lines beneath your feet could be leaking. Just because you don’t see visible signs of water leaking doesn’t mean a leak isn’t present.