After reading your water meter, you notice a consumption too high that you can not explain? If you are looking, you may find a water leak in your home. Leaking pipe can be very expensive and can cause significant moisture damage. Learn to detect water leaks in a home!
Where to find a water leak in a house?
A leak in the pipes can be anywhere. It is not always easy to find a water leak in a home. There are, however, places where leaks are particularly likely to form.
The places to check to locate a water leak :
- Faucets: One of the first things to do is, of course, to check all valves. Leaks are usually at the tops and junctions.
- The toilet tank: leaks are common in toilets. Open the container and listen, if you hear a hiss, there is a leak. You can detect a water leak by pouring a natural dye into the tank. If, after a few minutes, the bottom of the bowl is colored, the shutter is pierced.
- The water heater: The water heater valve is often connected to the rest of the pipes. Check for leaks on the tube or whistling that could indicate a leak.
- Hoses between the meter and the house: to check for leaks outside, close the water inlet valve and watch your meter. If it does not stop, there is probably a leak in the pipes that connect your meter to the house.
If you know the floor plan for your house, check for signs of moisture on the walls that hide the pipes. In general, it is at the level of the junctions that the leaks are located.
How to detect a water leak?
To detect a water leak, your first indication is your water bill. If, at the time of the survey, your consumption is too high, immediately think about checking your pipes. Other clues can put you on the trail of a leak well before paying the price. Even small leaks cause significant moisture damage:
- If you notice a very localized spot of moisture in the middle of an interior wall, there may be a faulty pipe behind it.
- A yellowish, green, or brown spot with very marked contours indicates that there was a lot of water there. If you observe this kind of stain on a wall or ceiling, you are dealing with an accidental leak. A stain caused by ambient humidity develops more slowly and discreetly.
- The material placed in front of a pipe deforms, gondolas, the paint crumbles, …
- Water flows along your walls.
As soon as you think of your leak, act quickly. Finding a water leak and repairing it immediately will help you avoid significant damage. Remember to contact your insurer; this kind of damage is usually covered by insurance.
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