Is Your Water Leaking? Time to Call Your Local Plumber

Water leaks can be a significant problem for property and home owners all over the Greater Toronto Area. Everyday plumbers head out to people’s homes and businesses to perform leak detection services. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that water leaks can cause a single family home to waste over 37,000 litres (10,000 gallons) of water per year. Furthermore, if you took all of the water leaked across the entire U.S. it would be enough water to supply Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago for an entire year. While there may not be quite as many people in Canada, or Toronto for that matter, the take home from this is that water leaks are a significant waste of water.  Plus, water leak repair saves property owners a buck by reducing the water bill, prevents costly and hazardous water damage, and is good for the environment.

Source of Water Leaks

Although there are many causes of leaks there are some very common issues that many people will face; for instance water leaking from old plumbing fixtures that need to be repaired is very common. Let’s take a look at a few of the most frequent problems we encounter:

Addressing Common Water Leaks

1. Leaking Toilet

• Detection: Add food coloring to the tank. If the bowl changes color after 20 minutes, there’s a leak.
• Fix: Replace the faulty flapper or adjust the chain. Check the tank-to-bowl gasket for damage.
• Call a Pro: If unsure or if the leak persists.

2. Leaking Faucets

• Detection: Look for a constant dripping sound.
• Fix: Replace worn washers or O-rings. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for your faucet type.
• Call a Pro: If the leak continues after replacement or if you’re uncomfortable with the repair.

3. Leaking Outdoor Spigots

• Detection: Leaks at the hose connection or spigot.
• Fix: Replace the hose washer. If the spigot itself is leaking, replace it.
• Call a Pro: If the leak persists after replacing the washer or if spigot replacement is needed.

Signs That Your Water May Be Leaking

t is the task of all property and home owners to keep an eye on their properties state of maintenance and when it comes to leaking plumbing the task is of even more importance. Here are a few ways that will help you prevent a leak from getting out of control. Check Your Water Bill

A very good way of monitoring leaks is to simply check your water bill. If you’ve developed a significant leak you can tell right away as your bill will spike to indicate that your water usage has gone up. If you haven’t suspected a leak until now it’s a good idea to take a look around and see if you can find anything that looks unusual.

Keep an Eye Out For Unusual Wet Spots

If you notice any dampness, moisture, or areas that have accumulated water where there really should not be any it could be a sign that a leak has developed somewhere in your plumbing. This can be a sign for instance if a pipe has cracked within the concrete slab in the basement (referred to as a slab leak), or in your lawn there may be a sudden area of wetness where there wasn’t before. If you can’t figure out what might be causing it it’s a good idea to contact your local plumber to take a look at it.

Basement plumbing leaks can be common so it’s a good idea to become acquainted with the myriad of pipes present down there; this way if you discover a leak you may be able to quickly assess what needs to be looked at.

Steps To Confirm a Leak

So you think you have a leak? There are a few steps you can take to double-check that a leak is present.

1. Find your water meter. Depending on your individual circumstances your water meter could be in a myriad of locations, near the street, in the basement, on the side of your house. In Toronto they are commonly found in the basement near the front wall of your house.
2. Turn off every fixture and water consuming device in your home. This will stop all water from being used and thus stop the water meter from detecting and usage.
3. Check the water meter again. Watch the water meter for 5 or so minutes, if you see it moving at all this means that water is being used somewhere in your home, since you’ve already shut off every fixture and item that uses water it must be caused by a leak somewhere in your property.

Confirmed your water leak? We suggest you…

Schedule Time For Repairs

If you think you’ve found a leak, or are having problems determining if you have a leak the best thing to do is to contact a licensed plumber to take a look at your problem, diagnose your specific water leak, and provide any repairs necessary. Water leaks left unrepaired can easily cost a fortune in water bills and in the worst case become very serious water damage issues down the road.