Detecting Water Leaks
People don’t necessarily think about leaks until they hear dripping noises. Once they do, it’s all hands on deck to find the source! Leaks start as little things but grow into a serious problem. You can stop them in their tracks though, if you know what to look for.
Noisy pipes
Excess air in the pipes makes banging noises from inside the wall. That’s not just scary, it’s also sign of a leak. Air doesn’t invade pipes any other way. When you hear the noises it’s time to check fixtures, toilets and the showers. When water is running down the wall it means a pipe has burst or it’s about to. That’s when you need to get the plumber.
Wet pavers or tiles
Wet paved areas or tiles are another sign of a leak. Older foundations with cracks show water leakage quickly. When it hasn’t rained recently or nobody has spilt something, chances are the wet spot is from the pipes connected to the main water line. A bust from one of these will turn into an expensive mess. Plumbers who offer concrete cutting solutions will get to the pipes quickly.
Your meter tells all
When you suspect a leak, it won’t cost anything to do a home experiment. Numbers don’t lie that often. When you find the water meter, write down the numbers you see on the reading. Don’t use water for a few hours. Leave the house if you have too. Come back to the meter and check again. If the numbers have increased only a little, it’s just a small problem. A big increase is when you need to call someone for leak detection.
Your grass is greener
Main pipes run in any direction, including under the backyard. Finding a leak this way won’t happen immediately. Over a period, the grass in one area of the yard will look brighter or grow faster than other parts. When you walk on it the soil feels damp underfoot. “The grass is greener” expression is supposed to inspire positivity, not worry.
Handling a burst pipe
April 11, 2017 by barrs_manager • News, Plumbing Problems • Tags: advice, burst pipe, plumbing • 0 Comments
Burst pipes or hot water systems are a confronting problem when they “pop”. They cause panic as well as mess. Plumbers confront these situations every day, and there are some steps you can take before they arrive.
Turn the water off
Find the stop valve as soon as you can and turn it. This will cut water to the property. Once you’ve done that, no more water will flow through the pipes. This will stop excess leaking.
Burst pipes are also a pain from a financial standpoint. At least by shutting off the water, you’re protecting yourself from the meter reading going up, and therefore your water bill.
Electricity and heat
Electricity and water don’t mix, plain and simple. Shut the electricity off as best as you can before finding the hot water. If there’s a burst pipe around the hot water tank, this is more dangerous. If you’re not careful, you can get injuries from the scalding temperatures. You don’t want a trip to the hospital on top of your plumbing issues. Plumbers advise leaving these pipes and areas alone unless you have training.
Start cleaning
Burst pipes are messy occupational hazards. One misstep and someone can slip and get a serious injury. After you’ve shut off the water, nothing else should leak. This makes it easy for you to get a broom or mop and start cleaning out the excess water.
After the plumber is done, or even while they work, get some antiseptic and wipe the floor down. Pipe water isn’t tainted unless it comes from backflow or a septic tank. It’s better, though, to be safe than sorry.
Handling a burst pipe doesn’t mean trying to fix the problem yourself. This can lead to more damage and some serious injuries. The plumber will know what to do so that the water flows again sooner rather than later.