Water Leaks and How to Detect Them
Not all leaks are obvious. They don’t necessarily make “drip, drip, drip” noises in an empty room like you see on television dramas. Some of the more serious leaks can evade detection unless you know what to look for.
Your pavers are crying
If your paved areas or the footpath in front of the house has some damp spots that didn’t come from a spill or rain, chances are an underground pipe is leaking. These are the main water lines connected to the house, and an ignored leak can turn into a burst pipe.
Your grass is greener
Some main pipes run under the backyard of a home. Over time some areas will look greener and the soil may feel overly damp when you walk on it. On a more serious note, if you wake up one morning and find that a billabong has replaced your backyard, there’s more happening than just a leak.
The pipes are singing
When there’s excess air in the pipe, it sounds like someone is knocking from inside the wall. This shouldn’t be happening. When you hear noises it’s wise to check toilets and showers for leaks. If left unattended, the next stage is the pipe bursting and causing damage. You’ll know the situation has gotten worse when the walls start leaking.
Your meter tells all
If you suspect a leak, doing a home test only takes a few hours and won’t cost anything. Find your water meter and write out the numbers on the dial. Check it after a few hours of not using any water. If the numbers have gone up a little, the leak is small. If it’s gone up a lot, a bigger problem could be on its way.
Further Reading
Photo credit: worksology via Visual Hunt / CC BY
