Scarborough. A beautiful, diverse community that hugs the shores of Lake Ontario, welcoming all who choose to call the Scarborough Bluffs home. Its woodlands are populated with deer, a diverse tapestry of oak, maple and cherry trees, and a delicious sampling of wildflowers and land and water mammals. And with its proximity to downtown Toronto, you have all the conveniences you could ever need to go along with nature's bountiful offerings. No wonder you choose to set down roots in this vibrant, serene community.
But being a homeowner comes with its own challenges, and the time of the month has come when your bills come flooding into your inbox. Though bills are never fun to receive, something seems especially remiss with this month's water bill. Upon clicking open the email from your utility company, you’ll find that your costs have skyrocketed from your regular costs. You rack your brain to think of your month's water usage and can't think of anything you might have done differently. Your showers were kept to a clean ten minutes, you didn't use extra water embarking on a big spring cleaning project, and you didn't run the dishwasher until it was full to the brim. Well, sometimes the root cause of the issue isn't always within eyesight, and you may be the victim of sneaky problems such as hidden leaks, which leave you in need of hidden leak detection.
In this blog, our Scarborough plumbers will be exploring hidden leak detection and how to identify that you may have leaks dripping away behind walls or ceilings or under your foundation. Let's tackle the problem together and get started!
Hidden Leak Detection: The 7 Steps to Identifying Hidden Leaks
Though you may have a feeling that something isn't quite right within your walls, it can be hard to identify what the root cause of the issue is. Enter us! When you're curious about how to identify hidden water leaks in your house, we have the answers. Read on for more on our non-invasive methods for hidden leak detection.
1. Check Your Water Meter
The first step to identify whether you have a leak is to check your water meter. A residential water meter measures the volume of water in a home and is located near the main water shut-off valve. Begin by turning off all water sources in your home. Following this, document the water meter reading and wait for about an hour without using any water in the house. If the meter has changed at the end of the hour, it's a clear indicator you have a hidden leak.
2. High Water Bills
The next step in hidden leak detection is to monitor your water bills, especially over several months. When you notice significant changes in costs, you have a high water bill due to a leak.
3. Visual Assessment
If nothing seems to be amiss with your water meter or water bills, it's time to get to the bottom of the issue with a hidden leak detection visual inspection. Make your way around your home's interior rooms and check walls and ceilings for bubbling paint, water stains, peeling wallpaper or warping. Mildew and mould growth are also good indicators that you have a leak. Additionally, inspect under and around plumbing fixtures and appliances for dampness. Knowing how to find a hidden water leak in your house is one of the most essential steps.
4. Listen for Dripping Water
Ensuring all the taps and plumbing fixtures in your home are turned off, listen for any sounds of dripping or running water. If you note any water presence, then you could have a leak and need further help for hidden leak detection or services, such as water line repair and drain repair.
5. Moisture Metre Detection
Another hidden leak detection method is using a moisture metre to detect water levels in walls, floors and ceilings. To use a moisture metre ensure it is calibrated according to the material you are testing (wood, concrete, etc.) Next, clean the surface area of the wall, ceiling or floor you intend to detect. Ensure all debris and dirt are wiped from the area. Then, after choosing the appropriate setting for the material you plan to detect, place the meter against the area without touching it with your hand how to find a hidden water leak in your house.
6. Dye Tests
Conducting a dye test is a simple and efficient method of finding a hidden water leak in your house. It's most commonly used in swimming pools and toilets as a means of hidden leak detection. For this method, put about 25 drops of food coloring into the toilet water (if this is the plumbing fixture you've chosen to test). Let the coloring sit for about 15 minutes. If coloured water remains, you likely have a leak on your hands.
7. Inspect Your Yard
Puddles, lush patches of lawn and wet patches in your yard often indicate a water leak somewhere in your plumbing system, especially during hot, dry months.
When you're curious about how to find a hidden water leak in your house, the aforementioned methods are great starting points to get to the bottom of the issue. If you'd like to learn more about the next steps, find out more about services you can't miss out on below!
The Mr. Rooter Plumbing Approach
Wondering how to find water leaks in your house? If your water bill is high due to a leak, the municipality will likely have reached out to you. However, if they haven’t and one of the above-mentioned warning signs applies to you, we highly recommend that you call a local professional. They’ll be able to help you instantly with professional tools that include:
- Thermal imaging: Determining leaks using heat maps
- Pressure testing: Testing for unstable water pressure
- Visual inspection: By visually inspecting visible water lines, plumbers can often tell if there is a leak.
With these tools, they’ll be able to determine if there is a leak and also locate it. This way, they can address the issue for you immediately before further damage occurs.
Curious About Finding Hidden Water Leaks in Your House? Turn to Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Scarborough!
Now that you know some DIY methods for hidden leak detection, you may be curious about what you can do about it. Well, that's where our licensed plumbers come in! We can employ state-of-the-art equipment to ensure thorough leak detection services, as well as provide services to mend your leaks, such as non-invasive sewer line repair, toilet repair, slab leak repair and more! Contact us today to schedule an appointment when you've been wondering how to find hidden water leaks in your house.
