According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household’s leaks can account for 10,000 gallons of water lost every year. If you want to prevent such water wastage, you will have to be a little bit more diligent about finding and fixing the leaks around your home. To help you get started, the pros at Freedom Air and Heat have prepared a guide on the different ways you can find hidden leaks in your home!
1. For Your Toilet, Use Food Coloring
That sentence might sound weird but hear us out! If you have a leak in your toilet, there is a chance the flapper might be worn out. The flapper is the seal between the toilet tank and bowl—whenever your toilet is flushed, the flapper lifts and lets toilet flow into your bowl. If there is a leak in your toilet’s flapper, water might be dripping from the tank into your bowl, without you even knowing. To inspect for a flapper leak, simply put a few drops of food coloring into your tank. If you notice the food coloring make its way into your toilet bowl within five minutes, you have a leak. The solution to this would be to simply replace your flapper with a new one from your nearest home improvement store.
2. For Your Home, Monitor Your Bill
One of the easiest ways to check your home for a leak, is to monitor your water bill for any sudden increases. In addition to that, if you suspect a leak, you can check your home’s water meter. Before you check the meter, take a note of its original reading then make sure you turn off all the water-using appliances in your home as well as any faucets. If you notice that your meter is showing a significant increase from its original reading, you might have a leak.
3. Check Under the Sink
A leak can be hidden anywhere, including under your bathroom and kitchen sinks. Make sure you keep an eye out for any stains or water damage in these areas. Noticing a leak too late can lead to expensive repair!
4. Keep an Eye out for these Visual Signs
Sometimes leaks that are hidden behind your walls or ceiling can be even harder to pinpoint. To find these leaks, look out for some of these visual leak-indicators such as:
- Peeling or bubbling paint/wallpaper
- Mold and mildew
- A musty odor
- Water stains
5. Use a Leak Detector
Leak detectors can be found online or at your nearest home improvement store. Think of these devices as smoke or carbon-monoxide detectors but for water leaks. Generally, all you must do is place them in areas prone to leaks—if they let out a beep or an audio signal of some kind, you might have a leak.
Have any more questions about finding water leaks in your home? Get in touch with the pros at Freedom Air and Heat! Call us today at 321-631-6886 or schedule a service with us on our website!
