Plumbing leaks are among the most insidious and subtle problems that can affect a home. They may not be that threatening at first, but they can cause quite a bit of damage in the long run if they aren’t caught as early as possible.
The best way to catch plumbing problems early is to have a professional examine your system. In between maintenance appointments, though, you can still have a good chance of detecting leaks yourself if you know what to look for.
Check Your Water Meter
One easy way to see if you might have a leak in your plumbing system is to turn off all the water appliances in your home and have a look at your water meter. If the meter isn’t running, then you probably don’t have a leak in your system. If the meter is still running, though, then that means water is still leaving the system. You should probably have a plumber examine your system at that point to locate and fix the leak.
High Monthly Water Bills
You should be keeping a close eye on your monthly utility bills, as they can often serve as an early warning system for malfunctions in your various home appliances. If your monthly water bills are significantly higher than you think they should be, it might mean that there is a leak siphoning water out of the plumbing system without your knowledge.
You should definitely call a professional to examine your system at that point, as a leak large enough to substantially increase your monthly bills is likely going to have the potential to also cause quite a bit of water damage.
Visible Water Damage
This is definitely not the first sign you want to notice that you have a leak in your plumbing system, but sometimes it happens. You should definitely call a plumber as soon as you notice any signs of water damage in your home, be it on the walls, floor, or ceiling. Even a small amount of water damage can cost quite a bit of money to repair, so the faster you can have it dealt with the more money you might be able to save.
Falling Water Pressure
The final sign that you should look for that might indicate a plumbing leak is falling water pressure. Slowly declining water pressure over time is a common sign of either a leak or blockage affecting the plumbing system.
You’re going to need a plumber to take a look at the pipes to tell for certain, but it’s important that you call a professional as soon as you notice this sign. You should act especially quickly if you notice a sudden and sharp drop in water pressure, as that might indicate that a pipe has actually ruptured somewhere in the system.
SPS Mechanical Inc. provides a full range of plumbing repair services throughout Sewell, NJ. If you need plumbing repair services of any kind, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional plumbers.