If you notice a water leak in your house, it’s important to address the leak as soon as possible. This is because water damage can lead to a number of expensive-to-fix issues. The most worrisome being mold. So, if you are serious about preventing the growth of mold in your home, it’s vital to understand how to look for water leaks in your home. This way, you can address issues before they lead to even bigger problems. But, how does a homeowner go above and beyond to identify a water leak in their home?
Step 1: Check Your Water Meter
Your water meter measures how much water you and your family use on a monthly basis. Checking it monthly will give you a better idea of how much water your family uses. And, what you should expect to see on your monthly visits to the water meter.
If you find that your water meter is measuring higher than usual, think of your water usage during the month. If you don’t recall any reason for your water meter measuring high (like taking extra showers, watering your garden more often, or washing all of the family vehicles), it may be a sign that there’s a water leak.
Some water meters have a ‘leak detector’ which makes it easy to see if you may have a leak. But, if not, there is another way you can do to use your water meter as a leak detector. First, you can turn off the water on all appliances and make sure no one is using running water in the house. Then, look at your water meter and write down the measurement. After a few hours, go back to check your meter. If the meter has risen without any appliance or person using any water in the past few hours, you know you may have a leak on your hands.
Step 2: Do a Once Over of All Your Water Systems
Once you’ve checked your water meter and you are more aware that you may have a leak, you can work to find where the leak is. To find a leak, you should first check all of your water systems in the home. So, this includes any appliance that may use water (dishwasher, washing machine, etc.), water softener systems, and other water treatment systems (ex: UV system). Make sure to look at components of your appliances and systems, like the piping and hosing, to ensure there is no water leaking from these parts. Furthermore, don’t forget to check any outside water systems like your sprinkler system or pool pump. This can include checking spigots for excess spraying and the gage on your pool pump which both signify a leak in pipes.
Step 3: Manually Check Your Home for Water Leaks
If you’ve checked all of your water systems and still haven’t identified a leak, you can continue to look for any signs of water leaking. To do so, inspect every surface around your home for any evidence of water leaks or damage. Typically, when there is water leaking, you’ll notice brown or orange coloring on surfaces. Also, you may notice paint peeling or even a funny smell, if there is indeed mold growing.
Step 4: After Identifying a Water Leak, Act Fast!
Now that you know how to identify a water leak in the home, you need to know what to do to address these issues. First and foremost, even if you can’t find the source of your water leak, a professional can help. And, not only can they help with the identification process, but they can help with the mold prevention process as well.
For example, here at A Plus Mold Remediation Inc., we help homeowners address a specific symptom of water leaks – mold. So, if you notice that you have a leak, have fixed the leak, and want to make sure your family is safe, we can help to address the mold. And, make sure the mold doesn’t grow back! To speak with us about how we can help to address mold as a result of a water leak, contact us today right on our website.