You arrive from work and grab the mail as you head inside your house. You notice a letter from the Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACDW) and open it.
How is your water bill so high after you made plenty of efforts to conserve water in your home? Instead of going on a mini-trip, you need to adjust your finances to cover the water bill. Leaking pipes are usually the main culprit behind high water bills and other symptoms.
Nobody wants to pay higher bills or deal with leaking pipes. We at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air have repaired so many leaking pipes and seen how much of a hassle they can be for homeowners.
Besides our homes, we’ve been dealing with leaking pipes all over Los Angeles for over 15 years. We’ve seen every water-leaking pipe symptom possible throughout our experience.
Thanks to our experience, we were able to identify the top ways to detect leaks in your home. We value our knowledge and will share it with you so you can handle any minor leak before it becomes a huge (and expensive) problem.
Why Are the Pipes in My Home Leaking?
There are several reasons why the pipes in your home are leaking. Once you detect a leak, the next thing to do is figure out what is causing it.
Although a daunting task, any homeowner can learn to detect leaks with a little insider knowledge. If you feel overwhelmed, that’s okay! You can always call a professional plumber to help determine if you have any of the following issues.
- Old Pipes: Pipe materials can last a few decades but will eventually lose their quality due to old age.
- Corrosion: Old pipes may be corroded over time due to overexposure to minerals from hard water flowing through the pipes.
- Clogged Pipes: Clogged drains are a common issue. Drains can have a buildup of waste and sludge, making it difficult for water to move along.
- Invasive Tree Roots in Pipes: Tree roots seek nutrients and water, which they can find through cracks in your home pipes. They can wreak havoc once they invade your pipes unless you learn about how to address it first and avoid it from happening again.
- Cracked or Broken Pipes: As pipes age, they are more susceptible to cracks or breaking apart. Decades of wear and tear can cause them to crack. Earthquakes can also cause your pipes to crack or break.
- High Water Pressure: Increased pressure from the water can overexert the pipes in your homes, which can cause leaks near the pipe joints and fittings.
Once the source of the water leak is detected, a plumbing technician will address the issue and provide suitable corrective measures. If a plumber finds broken pipes or sewer lines, then the next best step is to address the issue with a trench or trenchless repairs.
Visible Symptoms of Leaking Pipes
You can use your senses to help you detect leaking pipes. You can see water leaking, feel the water that leaked, and sometimes you may be able to smell it. We don’t recommend tasting any leaked water from pipes for health-related reasons.
You can perform a visual inspection of the following areas in your home.
- Bathroom: Pay close attention to your showerheads and bathtub faucets. If you see water leaking from the faucets after the water is turned off, it could indicate a leaking pipe in your home. Toilets may leak water around the waterline connection if a pipe leaks.
- Sinks: Inspect the faucets and drainage pipes under the bathroom, kitchen, and any other sink in your home for dripping water. Make sure the trap pipe is tightened. Even if a leak under the sink is minor, it is crucial to address it immediately with a professional to ensure there are no pipe leaks.
- Dishwasher: These kitchen appliances rely on water from your pipes. Check to see if there’s any water leaking from the bottom of your dishwater. Inspect the inside of a dishwasher when it’s not in use to see if there are any leaks inside.
- Laundry Washing Machine: Your laundry washing machine is another home appliance that relies heavily on water. These fabric washing machines connect to a waterline that may be spilling water due to leaking pipes. The waterline connection may be leaking water if there’s an issue with a pipe leak.
- Water Spigots: Spigots are the faucets located around your home. These sometimes are connected to a water hose. If you have leaking pipes, that water may be dripping from the spigot.
- Water Heater Tank Area: Whether you have a tankless or traditional water heater, you will notice leaks usually coming from the water line connections.
If you discover a leak in any of the locations mentioned above, it’s best to contact a plumbing company for further inspection. Besides visual inspection tests, there are other ways to detect leaks. The more leak detection methods you know, the quicker you can respond to pipes in your home that aren’t working correctly.
H3: Hidden Signs That Your Pipes Are Leaking
Water leaks can be easily detected, but what if you have leaking pipes hidden behind your home’s walls? You will be able to identify possible leaks hidden in your house early before it leads to complete home renovation due to water damage.
You may have leaking pipes in your home if you’re experiencing either one, some, or all of the following symptoms.
- Mold: A leaking pipe within your home’s walls will cause a build-up of moisture. The increasing moisture will deteriorate the walls and create mold. Even if you can’t see mold, you can smell it, which should be enough reason to have a plumber address it.
- Musty or Sewage Odor: This detection relies on you using your sense of smell. If you don’t see water leaking but smell sewage or a musty aroma, it could be due to a leaking pipe within your home.
- Greener Patches of Grass: A leaking water pipe under your yard might make some patches of grass greener. It might be hard to detect it immediately, but the ground in these areas may feel softer.
- High Water Bill: Your water bill may help indicate that you have pipes leaking in your home. Even if you conserve water, a leaking pipe can be categorized as water usage, which can increase the amount of your bill.
- Water Meter Readings: Every household in Los Angeles should have a water meter. Shut off your home’s main water valve and check the water meter. The needle will move to indicate that there’s a leak even though the water is shut off.
We recommend checking through each symptom at least once every couple of months.
Taking Care of Leaking Pipes in Your Home
You can maintain your home by detecting leaking pipes. Imagine the joy on the faces of your family when they save their homes from possible water damage, thanks to you using this guide to find leaks in their homes.
At Monkey Wrench, Heating & Air, we do our best to educate homeowners on how to make smart decisions for their homes. We’re motivated to address leaking pipes in our houses and customers’ homes. For over 15 years, we’ve seen all the signs and symptoms of leaking pipes, and we’re excited to share this knowledge with you.
If you have any further questions about leaking pipes, contact us online or at (310) 773-3882. If you are wondering whether you need to replace your pipes and sewer line, then learn more about what signs to look out for.
