When you see your latest water utility bill, do you often raise your eyebrows? You may think that you're paying too much for the size of your household and general needs, and you may well be right if you have an undetected water leak somewhere on your property. So, if you seriously think that something is amiss, you should bring in a plumber as soon as possible and make sure that they have the right equipment to locate anything untoward. Where should you start?
Unseen and Undetected
Most long-term water leaks are relatively minor, at least when they start out. They may develop from a pinhole crack in the pipe's surface or a connection that may have weakened following subterranean soil movement. These leaks often occur outside the property and underground, within pipes that connect the mains supply to your household. A situation like this could go undetected for weeks, months or years, leading to tremendous waste and unnecessary spending.
Meter Check
The best way to find out if you have a problem is to turn off all of your taps and check your meter reading. Do not use any water at all for a while, and then take another look at the meter reading. If there has been some significant movement in that time, you have an issue.
Initial Inspection
Have a very close look around your property to look for any kind of tell-tale evidence. For example, do you see any curling newspaper in the corner of a room that could indicate dampness behind your drywall?
Expert Help
If you've drawn a blank, you need to bring in a plumber with the right equipment to conduct a more extensive check.
For example, they may have a special probing tool that allows them to look for pressurised leaks underneath the soil. This probe will emit a special tone that will get more urgent as the plumber gets closer to the location of the leak.
Alternatively, they will introduce video inspection equipment that is connected to flexible fibre-optic cables. They can run these cables through your underground pipes from the surface level, and this will enable them to look at the condition from within. They'll get a very accurate reading if they find a leak and know exactly where to dig down to access the problem spot.
Taking the Initiative
In this situation, you will not only be wasting money each month but squandering a precious resource. Bring in a plumber with the right equipment to put matters right instead.
For more information on water leak detection, contact a company near you.
Share29 March 2022
If you experience plumbing problems, you will no doubt want to take action to get them fixed as soon as possible. Plumbing issues can lead to serious damage to your property so it is important that you take action fast. My name is Jackie and I would like to give you some advice on the steps you should take if your property develops a plumbing problem. I'm not a plumber myself but when my water pipes started to leak, I had to call out a plumber. The contractor who visited my home gave me lots of useful tips on how I could maintain my plumbing system.
