Some leaks are easier to spot than others. When the faucet of your kitchen sink is leaking, you can see it dripping after you pull the tap closed and hear the water droplets hit the basin when you walk away. Other plumbing leaks will not be so obvious at first glance, which is why you should know the signs that your pipes or fixtures need to be addressed by a trained professional.

Too Much Moisture

Since most of the home plumbing will be dealing with water, the first sign that there is something wrong is spotting excessive moisture near pipes, fixtures and appliances. Do not mistake beads of condensation on water pipes as an indication of a leak — this happens when the air surrounding the pipe is much warmer.

If a “sweating” pipe bothers you, you should cover it with foam insulation and seal it with tape. As an added benefit, the insulation can protect against freezing pipes which can burst from the pressure and suddenly send gallons of water gushing out into your home.

You want to look for bigger clues of moisture, like mysterious puddles appearing on the floor. Look upward to see if there are pipes on the ceiling that could be the source of the water. Pools of standing water sitting beneath dishwashers and water heaters are sure signs that there is a leak and that the appliances need to be replaced.

When it comes to fixtures, puddles on the floor are a warning sign that something is wrong. For instance, you can find signs of plumbing leaks with your toilet by looking for standing water sitting around the base and for water damage on the floor. Before you panic about all of your fixtures, make sure that the puddles aren’t caused by splashing or spilling water. You don’t want to assume that you need to replace your entire tub when a low-quality shower curtain is a reason behind the soaked bathroom floor.

If you see any suspicious water stains on the ceilings, the walls or floors of the house, it means that there is water hitting the surface from above or below. The size of the stain can indicate the severity of the leak or the length of time that it’s gone unnoticed. Do a general inspection of your house to see if there are stains hiding just out of plain view — sink cupboards often bury signs of plumbing leaks underneath piles of household cleaning supplies.

Other signs that your house is dealing with excessive moisture, include:

  • Mildew
  • Mould
  • Warped or rotting wood
  • Bubbling or chipping paint
  • Damp surfaces

how to find a water leak inside a wall

The Toilet Bowl Trick

If you don’t discover a puddle of standing water sitting at the base of your toilet, that doesn’t mean it’s clear of leaks. There could still be cracks or fissures in the porcelain that you can’t spot with the naked eye. The best technique for investigating water leaks with your toilet is to pour food colouring into the water tank and leave the fixture alone — come back in an hour to see if the water in the bowl has changed at all. If the water in the bowl is taking on the hue of the food dye, there is a leak. 

When you find proof that your toilet has a leak, you should get it fixed as soon as you can. Ignoring the problem can ruin your floors and even lead to a fiasco like a cracked toilet or a flooded bathroom. Avoid these stressful expenses entirely by calling Toronto plumbing services you can rely on to inspect the toilet to see if it only needs a repair or if it should be replaced with a brand-new fixture.

We can help you pick out your replacement and do the delivery and installation for you. With an expert installation, you can guarantee that the job will be completed perfectly.

A Lot Of Drain Problems

It’s normal to have an isolated clog or slow drain in the house. It could be your kitchen sink after letting too much food get down the drain or it could be your toilet after flushing down baby wipes. Having just one problem spot lets you know you need to address the blockage to get the fixture running as it should.

Unless you have stuffed obstructive materials into every sink or toilet in the house, the simultaneous clogs mean that you are dealing with a broken sewer line. The damage can be caused by debris travelling through the pipes or from sensitive materials — old clay pipes are especially susceptible to leaks. Tree roots can also infiltrate small cracks and grow inside of the pipes.

If all of the drains in the house are acting strange, you will need to get drain repair services in Toronto to inspect the sewer line to remove the blockages and replace the broken piping with high-quality upgrades. They will also offer solutions to stop sewer back-up from affecting your home plumbing. 

A Surprising Water Bill

Finally, evidence of plumbing leaks will show up on your bills. If you notice that the regular costs have made a significant jump and you can’t figure out why it’s likely that a pipe or a fixture is wasting water. Trust your intuition that something is off and see if you can find the source of the troublesome leak.

Figuring out whether you have plumbing problems or not can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. You can always hire a plumber in Toronto to come over to your house and inspect the entire property for water leaks so that you can get a confirmation of your suspicions from a seasoned expert. The best thing about getting the plumber to check-up on the house is that they will know exactly how to fix the leak when they see it.

Sometimes you need to do a little bit of detective work to find the source of a plumbing leak. With a little bit of know-how, you can find the culprit on your own or you can call a professional for help. Either way, you will be thankful that you solved the case, got the plumbing fixed and saved yourself from substantial costs in the future.

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