Plumbing leaks can stem from a variety of causes, but unless they involve something very obvious – such as water spreading across your kitchen floor or a lack of water pressure when you turn on the faucet – the chances of your being able to detect it are fairly small unless you know what to look for. Quiet drips and pinhole leaks can go undetected for years, and with the amount of rainfall we get in Olympia, WA, stray outdoor water is apt to get overlooked. Luckily, an astute homeowner can still pick up on signs of a leak in their plumbing, then summon a qualified service professional to take care of the job. Here’s a brief list of some of the things to watch for.
- Higher Bills. A leak in your plumbing wastes water, which is apt to show up as an unexpected uptick in your monthly bills.Keep careful track of your water usage and note when you get a spike in the rate unexpectedly.
- Damaged Walls or Ceilings. Drips are apt to cause problems with the surrounding material, especially the drywall or wood comprising your walls. Dripping water can also leak through the floor on the second story of your home, resulting in damaged material in your ceiling.
- Mold. Similarly, the presence of unexpected mold or mildew growth in your home could be the sign that a leak has sprung up in a nearby pipe. A moldy or mildew smell may similarly indicate a leak.
- Sounds. Unexpected dripping or hissing noises may indicate that water is escaping from your pipes in a hidden location. The good news is that such sounds usually make the source of the leak easier to pinpoint.
- Low Water Pressure. The water mater not be completely absent when you turn it on, but you might notice that the pressure isn’t as high as it used to be.
If you spot any of these signs, give the professionals at Brooks Plumbing Co. a call right away!
