A Dallas Plumber Explains How to Do Leak Detection
Doing leak detection and fixing plumbing leaks promptly is crucial to avoid water damage and excessive utility bills, and as a Dallas Plumber I’ve seen leaks and water damage like you can’t imagine. Before you need an emergency plumber to fix any serious plumbing leaks, here’s a few steps me and my buddies always tell our customers in Dallas and Fort Worth to take. Certainly these are great first steps, no matter where you are, but when you do realize that you need help, beyond any simple tasks you can do yourself, either with the initial leak detection, or fixing everything from a slab leak to a leaky faucet, calling a professional plumbing service can mean the difference between a few dollars now, or thousands of dollars in damage and waste.
Don’t let your home succumb to leaks.
- Monitor Water Bills
Keep a close eye on your water bills, especially for us in Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and all the surrounding areas, where it gets plenty hot and dry in the summer and water conservation is vital. If you notice an unexpected rise in costs without a change in your water use patterns, that could be a sign of a hidden leak. Each month, take a quick look at your water bill and compare past bills to catch any significant changes that might mean you have a plumbing leak. - Conduct a Water Meter Test
This takes a few hours, but you can do it if you go out to the movies or head out for the afternoon. Plumbers do this at their own homes all the time. Before you leave, shut off everything in your home that uses water. Of course, don’t turn off your refrigerator or freezer, but make sure the automatic icemaker is full of ice or deactivated. No faucets, toilet flushes, showers, appliances, irrigation systems, or anything else. Record the initial water meter reading, then wait a few hours without any water usage. Then, check your meter again. Any change in the reading may indicate a leak and might require further leak detection or plumbing service. - Listen for Leaks
Turn off your TV, fans, stereo, or anything that makes noise, and put on your plumbing detective ears. When doing leak detection, you can start by getting your home as quiet as possible, and then moving around, especially against the walls, and listening for dripping or flowing water, especially in areas near plumbing fixtures and pipes. For a Dallas Plumber, this can be hard, because of all the traffic in the city, but for my Fort Worth Plumber buddies, they can hear a lot more out in their neck of the woods. Just listening is a great way to do the first steps of leak detection and uncovering potentially damaging leaks. - Inspect Walls and Ceilings
In addition to your ears, use your eyes. For plumbers, it starts with looking at the situation and seeing what we can assess first. For leak detection, we look for water stains, discoloration, peeling paint, or sagging drywall on the walls and ceilings of homes. When you’re a plumber in Dallas, you see all kinds of homes, and some real nice ones, and oftentimes these signs of plumbing leaks will stick out like a sore thumb. Sometimes, though, you’ve really got to look hard. - Check for Mold and Mildew
Given the humid climate we experience in Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and the surrounding areas already, the excess moisture from a plumbing leak creates an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. Plumbers always tell their customers to keep your eyes and noses aware of an musty odors and dark spots on walls, ceilings, or even inside cabinets, any of these things might be the sign of a hidden leak that requires plumbing service. - Examine Flooring
We’ve looked up, but don’t forget to look down and check your floor. For a plumber in Dallas, that means not getting distracted by your cowboy boots. Instead, you need to Inspect the flooring of your home for signs of water damage, including any warps or discoloration, especially around plumbing fixtures. Soft or damp spots are telltale signs of an active leak. All leaks can be damaging, but floor leaks especially can be indicative of slab leaks or other piping issues that can cause incredible amounts of damage to your house and its foundation. If you think you have a floor leak or slab leak, make sure to call a professional plumber who can perform technologically up to date leak detection. - Use a Professional Plumbing Services
While some leaks are manageable with DIY methods, others may necessitate the expertise of a professional plumber. It can save time, money, and a whole heckuva lot of headache to bring in a plumbing service that specializes in leak detection and fixing leaks and get your issue taken care of before it becomes worse and creates bigger issues. For me, as a long time plumber in Dallas, my customers benefit from the skills, experience, and state of the art equipment I use as a professional plumber. Good plumbers can do efficient leak detection with infrared scanners and camera inspections.
If you follow these guidelines, and keep your eyes, ears, and nose open, you can be proactive about leak detection in your home and prevent potential damage. And when you need help, make sure to call a professional plumbing service…after all, a plumber’s job is to protect the health of the nation.
AAA AUGER Plumbing Services is a professional plumbing service providing expert residential and commercial plumbing services to Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, and the surrounding communities. In addition to being a fully equipped and professional plumbing company with all the plumbing tools, training, and know-how to perform expert leak detection and repair, AAA AUGER Plumbing Services also takes pride in providing useful plumbing service information to home and business owners wherever they may be.
Visit https://www.aaa-auger.com/dallas-plumber/ or call 972.222.2843 for your residential plumbing or business plumbing needs.
Guest Writer: Sylvestor Hibeard, Dallas Plumber