
How can you tell where a water leak is coming from?
One of the worse things that can happen in a home is a plumbing leak, especially one you don’t realize you have right away. The damage that can be sustained can be expensive and extensive, especially a plumbing leak and mold. Once mold starts, there are health issues that need to be addressed as well as the leak and damage.
If you have a plumbing leak in your home, the first step in fixing this issue is finding where the plumbing leak is, inside or outside. How do you perform a plumbing leak check? We offer the following tips:
1. Monitor the Water Meter
If you are noticing your water is getting higher but you haven’t increased your water use, check the water meter for huge fluctuations. This is done by making sure all water sources inside and outside the house are turned off then watch the meter. If the needle is moving, you definitely have a leak somewhere on your side of the meter.
2. Check the Faucets
Faucets are often the problem for plumbing leaks, and it actually is more from the rubber washer located under the handles is worn out. Replacing this is simply and can save you several dollars on your water bill.
3. Toilet Plumbing Leak
The toilet can be a source of plumbing leaks too that goes unnoticed until it begins costing you a lot of money on wasted water. To determine if your toile is the plumbing leak problem, add some food coloring inside the tank and wait 30 minutes. If you see colored water in the toilet bowl, then your plumbing leak is at the toilet tank. This is an easy repair by replacing the rubber flapper inside the tank.
Another toilet plumbing leak indication is the handle has to be jiggled after each flushing to stop the water from running inside the toilet bowl. This is fixed by tightening the nut on the mechanism inside the toilet tank or by replacing the handle. You may need to do both.
4. Do a Visual Inspection
Plumbing leaks inside the ceiling or walls are usually unnoticed …. until the damage is done. These types of plumbing leaks can be stopped if you’re diligent in doing visual inspections periodically. Any hint of discoloring or staining on the ceilings or walls, mildew or mold growing, or sagging ceiling spots, are all often linked to a plumbing leak or roof leak.
5. Underground Plumbing Leaks
Outdoor plumbing leaks can be expensive to repair and harder to detect. Low lying, soft areas in the lawn, or dark, lush green spots can indicate either a plumbing leak or sewer leak. These are they plumbing leaks that you’ll need to call a professional plumber.
Can plumbers detect leaks?
Plumbing and leak detection go hand in hand for a professional plumber. They are able to find leaks today accurately and quickly thanks to modern technology, even inside walls and inside the cement foundation of your home.
How do plumbers find water leaks in walls?
The first thing a plumber will do is a walk through and walk around your home. They are checking for any plumbing leak in wall or outside indications, and they often can find one that you didn’t see. They will look under sinks, around toilets, and in the yard, then follow up with a meter check as we described earlier.
When they have ruled out any leaks in these areas, they start check the walls and underground for plumbing leaks with their sound detection equipment. This equipment includes headphones and a microphone so they can hear any sound like running water. Sometimes they “charge the pipes”, a process of using pipe locator clamps on the visible sections of a pipes. These clamps transmit radar signals over the water pipes and can identify plumbing leaks.
How do you fix a plumbing leak?
As a homeowner, you may want to do your own plumbing leak repairs, and if you’re handy with basic tools, depending on where the leak is located, it can be fairly easy. Here are suggested steps for fixing a plumbing leak:
Step One: Measure the length of pipe that needs to be replaced. Purchase the pipe and any of the following basic supplies that you do not have already:
- Emery cloth
- Silver solder
- Solder flux
- Fitting brush
- Torch
Step Two: Turn all faucets off that are connected to the plumbing leak and remove any water left in the pipe with an air compressor.
Step Three: With a hacksaw or a pipe cutter, cut out the damaged pipe section and with the emery cloth and fitting brush, polish the inside and outside of the pipe left in and the new pipe you’re installing.
Step Four: Apply the soldering flux lightly to each side of pipes to be soldered.
Step Five: Wearing protective eyewear and gloves, solder the new pipe in place the let it cool.
Step Six: Turn the water on and check for leaks.

Can a water leak fix itself?
Yeah, unexpected plumbing leaks can lead to unbudgeted plumbing repairs, so you may be sitting there looking at that small drip thinking “will it just stop on its own?”. Maybe, but it will be only a temporary fix that happens either because the temperature fluctuated from cold to warm or warm to cold. Or, if your water has a high content of minerals, a piece of dirt may plug up a small plumbing leak. Remember though, just as easily as it fixes itself, it can start leaking again. Call 484-366-9362 today for your leaking pipe repair needs in Pottstown, PA.