How to Spot a Leak in Your Home's Plumbing

Serving Mesa, Queen Creek & the East Valley

Early detection of a leak in your home can save you money and save you from costly damage to your home and personal property.

Our Mesa Plumbing team is often asked about the signs of a hidden leak. Today, we will go over the top signs you have a leak in your home.

• Review your bill: Your water bill is often a good indicator of your home plumbing’s health. If you are seeing a steady increase in the amount you’re paying without a difference in your know usage, a leak may be to blame. Your bill is particularly helpful in detecting deep underground leaks. You are unlikely to see signs of an underground leak, but you will always pay for it. If your bill seems higher than normal, it’s probably a good idea to have a licensed plumber take a look.

• Check your water meter: Your water meter monitors all water usage on your side of the pipe, meaning you’re responsible for all usage that passes through it. As such, this is one of the best ways to test your home for leaking pipes. To do this, shut off all the faucets and water in the house. Make sure your home appliances like dishwashers and washing machines are not running. Now, check your meter. If you see it changing in real-time, call a plumber immediately as you probably have a substantial leak. If you don’t see anything right away, it doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods just yet – take a picture or write down the current number – come back in a few hours and see if it has changed. If so, it’s likely you have a slow leak somewhere in your plumbing system. Not an emergency, but give us a call and schedule a time for one of our plumbers to come and check it out. 

• Toilets: Your home’s toilets are the most likely source of leaks in the plumbing of your home. A common test we have customers perform is putting a few drops of food dye in the tank of your toilet. If that coloring ends up in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Considering, on average, a home’s toilets make up 30% of overall water usage, these seemingly minor leaks can have a major impact on your usage and bill. 

• Pay attention to stained walls and ceilings: If you have a leak inside your walls, you will often see discoloration or yellowing of the wall or ceiling close to the leak. If you notice a discolored wall, call us 24/7. You don’t want the leak to cause further damage or worse yet – be the catalyst for mold growth in your home. 

• Foul odor: Foul, sewage-like odor in your home is obviously a concern. If your home or yard has a consistent, off-putting smell, you could have a leak in your sewage system. This is no only unpleasant, it can cause serious health issues if left unaddressed. 

• Regular Plumbing Inspections:  We consistently preach to our customers to have their home’s plumbing inspected annually. A regular inspection can spot and repair potential problems before they occur. Unfortunately, most homeowners wait until a major issue occurs before calling. 

If you suspect a leak in your Mesa or East Valley home, our top team of top-rated plumbers is ready to help. Remember, Don’t Get Angry, We have the Solutions. Call us today for a free estimate, or to schedule your annual inspection.