Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog

How to Tell If You Have a Leak in Your Plumbing

Frozen-PipeThe plumbing system is one of the most difficult systems in the average home to keep in good condition. This is mainly because the majority of the system is located out of sight, making it difficult to diagnose issues with it without professional equipment and training. By the time you do notice that something is wrong with your plumbing system, it is often too late to prevent the damage the problem has caused.

The best way to make sure that your plumbing system stays in good condition is to schedule preventive maintenance for it at least once a year. In-between those appointments, though, there are still things you can do to make sure that your system stays healthy. Read on to find out more about how to detect plumbing leaks between maintenance appointments.

Watch for Falling Water Pressure

Falling water pressure is pretty much never a good sign when it comes to plumbing systems. If the water pressure in your plumbing system is dropping, that means that either there’s a leak or a blockage forming somewhere in the pipes. If there is a sudden, sharp drop in water pressure it could indicate that a pipe has ruptured somewhere. That qualifies as a plumbing emergency, and should be dealt with as such. Always call for a professional plumber to examine your pipes if you notice this symptom.

Steadily Rising Water Bills

It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your water bills, as they can serve as an early warning sign when something isn’t right. If your water bills are going up, even if you’re not using any more water per month than you normally do, it might mean that there is a leak in your system. You should contact a plumber to check out your system for you, just in-case.

Check Your Water Meter

One of the simpler ways to check and see if you have a leak in your pipes is to turn off every plumbing appliance in your home and check the water meter. If the meter is still running, then water is still leaving the system somewhere. That means you probably have a leak. If the water meter isn’t running, then you’re probably fine. There may still be pinhole leaks in the system that are too small to activate the meter, but as long as you’re scheduling preventive maintenance once a year those will be dealt with before they cause too much trouble.

Obvious Water Damage

This is the very last way that you want to find out that your plumbing system is experiencing issues. If you notice any obvious water damage on your walls, floor, or ceiling, you almost certainly have a leak in the pipes in that area. This is typically the way that homeowners find out about pinhole leaks if they don’t schedule plumbing maintenance, as they are often too small to be discovered before they have the chance to rot out the surrounding area. If you find any water damage in your home, have it examined as quickly as possible.

Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing provides comprehensive plumbing services. If you need a plumber in Gaithersburg, MD, contact us today for an appointment.