A water line leak could easily result in thousands of dollars in damage. Water can cause stains, mold and bacteria growth, structural damage, and more. That said, you can expect mitigation, damage removal, drying, resurfacing, and carpeting costs. What’s worse, water leaks can be insidious, going unnoticed and causing cumulative issues. So, how can you identify a water leak if most of the plumbing is behind the walls? Start with these common signs, then seek out professional water line leak services.
Hicks Plumbing offers such services to the residents of Oakton, VA. Get your water line leaks repaired before more money goes down the drain. Moreover, consider replacing your aged, leak-prone plumbing for systems that will last decades to come. With Hicks, you can rest assured you’ll have plumbing that works. Contact us online or at (703) 803-7466 today.
Below are some early signs of a water line leak:
The Water Meter
First, turn the water valve to off. Then, check the water meter and see if it continues to spin. A continually spinning water meter indicates there’s a leak. A very slow-spinning meter may go unnoticed, so leave everything off, wait, and then check if there’s movement.
If the meter continues to operate, you likely have a water leak somewhere. Promptly call a professional to locate it before matters get worse.
The Toilets
Toilets consume almost a third of the water used in a home. So, it’s a logical next place to check. Water stains are a good sign of a leak in a toilet, especially vertical ones in the bowl. A more thorough test, drop a small amount of food coloring in the flush tank. Then, give things about 10 or 15 minutes.
If you go back and find that the bowl water is noticeably colored, the tank may be leaking. Contact a plumber to administer a fix. Your toilet may require a rubber valve, seal, or entire replacement.
The Sprinkler System
If your irrigation is on a timer and pressure system, a leak is going to rob water from your plants and money from your pocket. PVC pipes age very fast and are commonly used in landscaping. Even a small dripper pipe that fails can let out dozens of gallons of water in just a few hours. Hire a plumbing company to check your landscape piping every 6 months and replace parts as needed.
The Wood Cabinets
Most kitchen and bathroom furniture is made of compacted fiberboard with a sleek surface glued on. That same furniture is prone to soaking up water quickly, if exposed. Tell-tale signs are warping, bubbling, dry-rot, and flaking.
As water exposure continues, the wood gets soft and can be punctured with small pressure from a hand or tool. If any of these signs are found, there’s likely a leak beneath or behind the cabinet wall. A professional plumber can identify and take care of these kinds of leaks.
Schedule for Water Line Leak Repair in Oakton, VA
Hire a professional plumber to inspect your home before the big leaks happen, not after the fact. Prevention is always far cheaper than damage control, especially with water. Hicks Plumbing is happy to fix water line leaks for Oakton, VA, homeowners. Just reference our testimonials for comments on our knowledge and enthusiasm about plumbing. For your next water line leak repair, don’t hesitate to call us at (703) 803-7466.