Water leaks widely vary in appearance. Your home or business may have telltale water leak signs, such as wet spots, water discoloration stains and warped ceilings, floors, wall and woodwork. If you notice wet soil or sinkholes on your property, this can indicate a leak or drainage issue.
Note that water leaks mean more water is being expelled, which will correlate on your monthly water bill. If mindful water usage hasn’t increased, a water leak may be to blame for your high bill. Unfortunately, a high water bill isn’t the only cost associated with a water leak as the damage to the property’s structure or yard are often costly if repairs are delayed. Damage to plumbing systems, mold and mildew growth, weak ceilings, walls or floors and rotting wood are all costly repairs.
To detect any present water leaks and mitigate water leak damage, contact our restoration company. Maven Construction Group is available around the clock for water restoration services throughout the North Central Florida area. Our leak detection services are second to none, our team has the appropriate experience, tools and licensing required to expertly detect and repair water leaks.
If you suspect your home or business has a water leak, start by checking your water meter. There are two ways to do this:
Underground pressurized pipes make many different sounds when water is leaking from them. Listen for any of these warning sounds:
The volume of the sounds and the distance from the source of origin depends on several factors, which include the following:
Locally owned and operated in Gainesville, FL, Maven Construction Group is a licensed general contractor, Angie’s List Certified Contractor, and is accredited and A-rated by the Better Business Bureau. Maven has delivered the best damage restoration and reconstruction services in North Central Florida for more than 15 years.
Certified General Contractor Lic # CGC1519003 Certified Mold Remediation Lic # MRSR2344As appliances age, the seals around water connectors and doors begin to age and are subject to malfunction. Condensation on or around the appliance may mean you have a broken seal.
The inconvenience of a clogged drain will sometimes lead to the bigger issue of a clogged line. A clogged line may cause overflowing or even burst pipes.
Rust, stress cracks and other types of corrosion may begin to eat away at your pipes as the plumbing ages. Discolored or warped pipes are leading candidates for a future water leak and need to be checked by a plumber as soon as possible.
Pipe joints can deteriorate and these points are often the weakest part in a plumbing line. Pipes that make a ticking or banging noise, especially when hot water is being used, are a common sign of pipe joints under significant pressure.
Excessive and/or uneven water pressure can strain pipes, putting them at risk for breaking and leaking. Most are built to withstand only a specific amount of water pressure.
Water line connectors may become loose over time with wear and use of the appliance. A connector leak will likely have water run directly from the supply line or puddle around the washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
Extreme temperature changes force pipes to expand and contract, leading to cracks and leaks.
As trees and plants grow, their roots encroach on underground pipes, sometimes forcing the pipes to break. You may notice wet patches or sinkholes in the yard if roots have damaged the pipes.
A stream of water is the obvious sign of a leak, but a hissing, whooshing, banging or thumping sound may also mean there is a water leak in a pipe. When considering how to fix a leaking water supply line, keep in mind the pipe material, age, and whether the line has had a previous repair.
Regardless of faucet type, washers and gaskets frequently wear out from use and cause leaks. Compression faucets often need new seat washers, whereas ball-type faucets contain many parts, making finding the worn part more tedious.
Re-tightening the shower head or applying pipe tape around the pipe stem can sometimes fix a leak. In bathtubs, aged rubber washers inside the faucet assembly will dry out and leak. If the tub faucet still leaks after replacing the washers, the entire assembly may need to be replaced. A drain leak may be caused by a faulty drain seal or the plumbing below the drain itself.
A toilet leak may be more subtle than other water leaks around the house. If you suspect your toilet is leaking, drop a dye tablet or 10 drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait for 10–15 minutes (don’t flush!). If you see colored water in the bowl, you have a leak.
Many homes in North Central Florida use automatic lawn sprinkler systems. Unfortunately, many of these systems are underground, making it difficult to detect a leak. If you find soft spots on the lawn and/or around the sprinkler system, it’s usually an indication of a leak. Also, if you hear water running but the system is turned off, there could be a leak.
Copper pipes commonly run in a concrete slab, but these pipes rust, corrode, age, and weather over time. The ensuing slab leak may cause the floor above to raise or have a dome portion, or even lift the home’s foundation if undetected and not repaired.
Water leaks aren’t limited to homes and landscaping. Many properties have a swimming pool with leaks that are unnoticeable to the naked eye. Pool leaks are caused by either defect in the pool structure itself or from any necessary pool plumbing. If you find you’re using more chemicals, the water bill is going up, there are cracks in the pool deck, and/or unexplained water outside the pool, it’s time to investigate for a water leak.
