In Part I of this two -part blog series, we reviewed potential signs your home could have a hidden water leak. In this segment, we will discuss various methods for finding the source of the leak. It is important to keep in mind that finding the source of a water leak within your home is sometimes difficult and can be very hard to pinpoint.

Whenever you can find the source of the leak yourself, it will save you time and money, whether you call professional plumbers in Annapolis to fix it or you make the repairs yourself.

Narrowing Down the Location of the Leak

The first step is to shut off the water main coming into the house. If your water meter stops spinning, then the leak is definitely somewhere within the home. If not, then the leak is in the water line coming into the home. From there, consider the location where you noticed signs of a potential leak, and use these ideas to attempt to find the source, as follows:

• Toilets – Water leaks can develop around toilets if the toilet ring seal needs to be replaced. Open the lid on the back of the toilet and check inside the bowl to see if water is dripping or running down into the bowl. If both of these are fine, but you still hear water dripping, the ring seal probably needs to be replaced.

• Hot Water Heaters – Hot water heaters have been a nightmare for numerous homeowners who do not realize the pressure release valve is leaking. Hot water heaters can also fail unexpectedly, leading to even bigger messes. Check around the base of the hot water heater and run your finger over the end of the water release valve to look for wet areas.
• Sinks – Aside from dripping faucets, check underneath sinks and look for signs the pipes are leaking. Sometimes small leaks can go for months or even years undetected, so it helps to make it a habit to check under sinks whenever you clean them.
• Outdoor Leaks – Sometimes water leaks occur on the exterior of the home. If certain areas of your yard are greener or grow faster than others, then that is one sign the leak is outside. However, it is worth noting, if you have a septic system with a drain field, the drain field may result in greener and faster growing grass, too.
• Showers and Tubs – Shower and tub leaks can be harder to find since the pipes are normally hidden behind a wall. Your home may have an access panel on the opposite side of the wall from the shower or tub that you can remove to inspect for leaks.

Don’t worry if you cannot find the leak but have narrowed it down to one or two potential areas. This will still make the job of your plumber that much easier. We invite you to check out Part I for more useful information, or call us for further assistance at Hague Water of MD, by phoning (410) 757-2992.