Was your last water bill eye-popping? If it was substantially higher than usual and you haven't changed your consumption pattern to any degree, you may wonder whether you have a leak. It may be time for a closer look around your home. See if you can spot any tell-tale signs of an issue that you may not have noticed before. Where should you start?
Out of Sight
Pipes that connect your water supply to various rooms in the home run behind drywalls or in the space between ceilings and floorboards. While they can remain in place without a problem for many years, issues can arise. Even the slightest movement in your foundation may cause an old pipe to spring a leak and often where it joins an elbow or other pipe. It doesn't take much for the smallest leak to add up if it is allowed to continue around the clock. Little wonder that your bill would be elevated in a situation like this.
Looking Around
Conduct a close inspection around the bottom of every wall and behind large articles of furniture that may block your view. You should be looking for discolouration, as dampness behind a particular part of the wall could cause spots to appear on your side. In a more advanced case, you may notice brown or black mould patches, especially in a darker area behind a cupboard. If your walls are papered, pieces may start to curl up, which is a sign of dampness in the area. Sometimes, you may even notice a musty smell that may not be pervasive but restricted to a room corner.
Quick Check
If you want to conduct a quick check to see if you are paying for water without using it as such, go to your water meter and take a reading. Then, check this again in a few hours and without using any water for washing or flushing toilets. If the number has changed, you have your answer.
Finding the Location
Unfortunately, it's not always easy to pinpoint the exact location of a water leak when it is hidden behind a wall. The last thing you want to do is start chopping away at your drywall near a piece of curling wallpaper, as that is not necessarily the exact source of the issue. Leaking water can sometimes run along a pipe before finally dripping down, and the leak may therefore be some distance from the evidence.
Bringing in the Pros
Instead, call in a plumber. They will have a series of handy tools, including a moisture meter. They will point this at various parts of the wall to determine the highest reading, closest to the leak. They may also bring an infrared camera that will show up the wettest areas quite clearly. Once they're sure where the issue is, they can repair it using the least invasive methods available.
Urgent Action
Don't waste a minute if you are sure that you have a leak. Remember, your next bill is mounting up as you think about it.