Water leaks, if left unchecked, can be incredibly expensive as well as inflict damage on your property. The person who pays the water bill is responsible for the cost of water which is wasted as a result of the leak. More importantly, water damage is incredibly destructive to your home. Here is what you should do immediately if there is a plumbing leak.
If you suspect a leak, it is prudent to first investigate. The last thing you should do is wait, as this will worsen your woes and cause nothing short of a disaster. It is always advisable to call a plumber if you are having an emergency with the pipes in your house. But if you are not yet sure, here is what you can do to confirm the course of action.
You may get the feeling that there is a water leak due to an increase in your water bill, yet you do not think you have increased your water usage. The explanation for this mysterious increase could be a plumbing leak. There is an easy test you can do if this is your situation.
You can determine if you have a leak in your home by doing a simple test. First, find your water meter: this is the device that keeps track of how much water your household has used. Then switch off every tap in your house – make sure nobody is using any water. This includes outdoor taps. If the water meter is still ticking away, showing water usage, when every tap in your home is firmly off, then there must be a leak somewhere. If this is the case, you can narrow down its location by switching off your water at the mains. No more movement of the dial indicates that the leak is inside your house, while if it keeps turning over then the leak must be outside the house.
Now, this test is not foolproof. It is useful in confirming what you already suspect, but there can be some circumstances in which you get a false positive (for example if you have a sprinkler running that you have forgotten about). Also, you need your property to have its own accessible meter for this to work – you may not be able to access the meter if you live in an apartment or unit.
Once you have confirmed a leak, your next steps depend on how handy you are. If you are able to determine the exact location of the leak, you may be able to attempt some at-home troubleshooting. You will consider yourself lucky if it is a leaky toilet, as this can sometimes be easy to fix for those who are experienced in basic at-home repairs. Otherwise, it is high time to call in a plumber.
Reach out to us at Sydney Blocked Drains to solve your plumbing issue. We are experienced in repairs of all kinds, as well as having a specialty in unblocking and relining pipes. We can be reached on the phone on 1300 403 201, or you can contact us through our website. We are available around the clock for any late-night plumbing issue that you might have. Best of all, we do not charge a call out fee – so you simply pay for the cost of the parts and repairs that you need.
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