Learning how to prevent plumbing leaks in your home or business will cut down on wasting water, save on your water bill and help prevent a disaster. In order to prevent leaks, it is important that you know where they are most likely to occur and to know what signs you can detect that show you may have a plumbing leak.
Here are few helpful tips.
Your Water Bill
Have you seen a spike in your water bill? Customers often call us after they have noticed a water bill that seems much higher than normal. When you are accustomed to seeing a certain amount for your water bill each month and then see it suddenly go up that can come as a quite a shock. This increase in your bill is usually due to something going on in your home or business. Here are a few factors that may have caused a sudden increase.
Common Plumbing Leaks
Here are some common plumbing leaks and how you can help prevent them.
Inspect the water-supply lines under kitchen sink for excessive moisture or bubbling water at the connections. Check lines connected to the faucet, dishwasher and ice-maker.
Leaky or dripping faucets can cause a lot more water loss than you might think. Just one leaking faucet in your home or an outdoor spigot can waster over 3 litres per day and close to 350 gallons per year.
A running toilet can increase your total water consumption by hundreds of litres, which can lead to a drastic increase in your water bill. If you notice any of these well known signs of toilet problems, contact a professional plumber right away:
Your toilet continues making noise long after it’s finished flushing
There are signs of water leaking at the base of your toilet.
You have a stinky sewage smell in the bathroom.
Your toilet has difficulty flushing and clogs up regularly.
The porcelain is chipped or has a crack.
Another big user of water in your home is the washing machine. A leaky washing machine can waste a lot of water and be a cause of hidden water damage. Be sure and check behind your washing machine and under it for any signs of plumbing leaks. Also check the fittings around your washing machine’s hose. Your hose should be replaced every 5 years.
You have a water heater leak. Another place to prevent plumbing leaks is your water heater. If your water heater is leaking water or isn’t working properly, it could lead to a spike in your water bill — and it could also be dangerous. Look around the base of the tank to see if there are any visible signs of leaks. If you don’t see any signs of plumbing leaks but have noticed that your water is taking longer to heat up, your water is cloudy, or you hear popping or rumbling sounds coming from your water heater, contact your plumber right away.
Have your air conditioner checked and cleaned every year by a professional. Air condition condensation leaks cause thousands of dollars in water damage each year in San Diego.
An underground leak. If there’s an underground leak on your property, it could cause a significant increase in your water bill. Unfortunately, an underground leak can be pretty tough to detect yourself, but if you notice any of these common signs of an plumbing leaks, contact a professional plumber:
Unusual wet, mushy areas on your property
A seemingly random moldy, soft, or mossy patch surrounded by dry grass
Prevention is the best way to avoid plumbing leaks in your home or business. If you suspect a leak, call Black Mountain Plumbing today at (858) 536-4161. We have been serving San Diego for over 25 years.
Serving San Diego and San Diego County for over 25 years with quality work and great service. We also service these cities – El Cajon, La Mesa, Lakeside, Poway, Ramona, Santee, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, University City, Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Fairbanks Ranch, 4S Ranch, and Sabre Springs.
