leaks? Archives - About Plumbing Inc.

How to Identify Water Leaks in the Plumbing

How to Find and Fix Water Leaks

Water leaks are a common, frustrating problem that most homeowners will have to deal with at some point. They waste tons of water, drive up water bills, and can also do significant damage to a home by ruining floors and walls and spurring mold growth. Dealing with these pesky plumbing problems takes some knowledge and attention. This article aims to help homeowners better notice the presence of water leaks in their homes.

Watch for High Water Bills

Homeowners are responsible for paying for lost water and repairing leaks at any point after the water meter, which can lead to high water bills and headaches. Water leaks can occur at any point in the system, so many can stay hidden for quite a while. The best way to spot leaks like this is to monitor the water bill.

Water meters are sensitive devices that track water usage in the home. When leaks start to occur in the system, the bill can show a dramatic increase over the course of a month. By tracking water bills, homeowners can spot bill increases more quickly and call for a leak detection service to fix the costly leak.

Other Signs of Leaks

The unmistakable signs of water leaks include standing water or hissing noises. However, since all water leaks aren’t obvious, homeowners must know the subtle signs to address them promptly. Since water contributes to humidity, most signs of hidden water leaks revolve around this principle.

For example, when water leaks from pipes, it can raise the humidity in the home, causing discomfort. If the HVAC cannot control the humidity in the home, a plumbing leak may be to blame. Likewise, excess moisture in the home can cause flooring to buckle and walls to become wet and moldy. When these signs are evident, plumbers should be called for leak detection and repair.

Use the Water Meter to Your Advantage

When plumbers are called to look for a plumbing leak, they often use the water meter to verify the presence of a leak. Luckily for homeowners, this test is easy and can be used by anyone anytime they suspect a water leak.

Before performing this test, it is best to wait until everyone is out of the house. For accuracy, no water usage is allowed during the testing period. Turn off all washers, dishwashers, and plumbing fixtures so the system is completely on standby. Next, go to the water meter.

This device is usually underground in a special box that allows access from the surface. Open the box and look for the meter. The meter will have sensitive dials that sense the water flow through the piping. If these dials are moving despite no water usage inside the home, a leak is present, and plumbers must be called to investigate further.

More of About Plumbing Inc.

About Plumbing Inc. offers reliable service from trustworthy technicians. Using the latest technology, their teams handle problems from drain and sewer issues to water leak repairs. They also offer straightforward pricing and top-notch service performed by experienced technicians. Call today for reliable plumbing service in Jefferson County, MO.

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Keep the Family Safe From Gas Leaks

Identifying a Gas Leak

Over half of all homes in Missouri use natural gas for at least one use. Unlike a leak in the water or sewer lines, a gas line leak is dangerous and potentially deadly if left untreated. It’s important to understand the signs of a gas leak and know how to exit the home safely if one does occur. This article will explain how to identify signs of a gas leak and respond to the issue as safely as possible.

Side Effects of a Gas Line Leak

A gas line leak usually implies trouble in various ways for the home and the people in the home. Inhaling gas for any period is highly dangerous, and the premises should be evacuated immediately if it is believed there is a gas leak filling the air. Inhaling low levels of natural gas can bring on a flurry of physical symptoms, including:

Headaches
Dizziness
Fatigue
Nausea
Irregular breathing

While these, for the most part, are general symptoms that could be confused for something else, they will continue to get worse if left untreated. Symptoms of higher levels of natural gas poisoning include:

Fatigue
Severe headaches
Memory problems
Loss of concentration
Suffocation

Calling a healthcare professional as soon as possible is recommended if these symptoms occur.

Along with the health dangers of a gas leak, there are also physical dangers. The longer a leak is left untreated, the more the gas will keep filling the home, and the risk of fire danger will only keep increasing. If there is a leak in the gas line, the sooner a professional is called to perform a proper gas leak repair, the better.

Signs of a Gas Leak

Woman sitting at a table, holding her nose and showing signs of discomfort, likely due to a gas leak, emphasizing the importance of recognizing gas leak symptoms.

Understanding the signs of a gas leak is crucial when owning a home. Luckily, there are several ways to identify if there is a gas line leak:

The smell of rotten eggs: Gas is naturally odorless, so gas companies add odorants to create a rotten egg smell similar to sulfur. This way, if there is a leak in the gas line, it’s noticeable almost immediately.
Hissing sounds: Larger leaks in a gas line usually create a hissing sound, even when the appliance is shut off. Pipes should be checked regularly to ensure everything is still sealed tightly.
Dying house plants: Natural gas stops plants from absorbing oxygen, which can lead to wilting and eventually dying. If proper care is still not enough to keep the plants in the home alive, then this is a huge indicator that gas leak repair might be needed.

If any of these gas leak symptoms are noticed, a professional should be called immediately to perform gas line repair.

What to Do During a Gas Leak

Family standing in a backyard looking at a modern house, highlighting the importance of home safety and maintenance, relevant for gas leak awareness and plumbing services.

A gas line leak is sometimes unavoidable, even if proper preventative steps are taken. If gas leak symptoms appear inside the home, everyone should evacuate immediately and regroup at a location safe enough distance away from the home. All doors and windows should be left open, and no electrical switches or appliances should be touched on the way out. Call the gas company and professionals for repair immediately and wait for professional assistance.

Choose About Plumbing Inc.

About Plumbing Inc. has been serving the Jefferson County area since 2016. About Plumbing keeps up with all the latest technology to ensure they fix your problems with the best equipment around. Call About Plumbing Inc. and schedule a gas line leak detection and repair in Jefferson County, MO, today!

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How Can Homeowners Find Underground Leaks?

How To Locate an Invisible Leak

While underground leaks cannot be seen inside the home, homeowners can still find signs of destruction. Puddles of water, a high water bill, and the sound of running water can all indicate an issue with the plumbing system. Leaks need to be repaired as soon as possible to avoid mold and costly home damage.

Which Signs Are Important?

Underground leaks can cause physical differences in the outdoors. Small cracks can appear in the foundation if the leak is below a black top or sidewalk. The softer ground may shift. Bulges in the grass or even sinkholes can develop if the problem is neglected.

A decrease in water pressure is one sign that can be spotted from indoors. If a leak is caused by excessive clogging or erosion, this creates a lighter spray in both the bathroom and sink faucets. Low water pressure may require longer showers to feel truly clean. This problem cannot be fixed by purchasing a new showerhead.

Underground water leaks are sometimes heard from inside the home. Unusual hissing noises and the sound of running water are not normal when the plumbing system is working properly. This may indicate damage to the sewer system. Splashing and gurgling noises represent water flow and help plumbers locate the general vicinity of a leak in the walls or floor.

When a home becomes unusually damp, this can give off a foul odor throughout the building. This is usually due to mold or mildew building up under the floorboards. Mold is considered toxic if it is not removed from the premises and can cause several health issues, such as respiratory problems, headaches, and nausea.

If there are puddles of water on the lawn despite sunny weather, a mainline leak may be to blame. Above the leak is usually a patch of grass that is much brighter and overgrown than the rest of the lawn. This is due to the extra nutrients leaking from inside the sewer pipes. A trained technician can locate the exact spot where the line is cracked.

How To Check the Water Meter

A water meter is usually located outside the home near a curb or sidewalk. To check for hidden leaks underground, homeowners can examine the water flow in their plumbing system. If water continues to flow even when the main water valve is turned off, this is a clear sign of leakage.

The asterisk on the meter is supposed to turn when water appliances are in use. This includes washing machines, faucets, and toilets. If the asterisk stops moving when water is no longer in use, this is a sign that the integrity of the pipes has not been jeopardized.

Fixing an underground leak does not necessarily mean plumbers must dig up the yard to replace piping. It means they must use specialized tools to pinpoint the size of the crack and why it occurred.

Leak Detection Services

Water leak detection services find both big and small breaks in the piping. This can be done through acoustic detection, noise correlators, and installation software. A leak detection system is one of the fastest ways to detect leaks.

A leak detection system measures water flow based on a specific household’s water usage. It is designed to understand the busy times and weekly patterns to alert homeowners when there is an irregular flow. This can be used over wifi or an app, depending on the software.

Acoustic leak detection uses microphones to detect moving water. Since copper and steel pipes carry sound long distances, plumbers can diagnose the issue while wearing headphones. Noise correlators are similar in that they use sensory input to detect movement. This automated process responds to the main control unit so leaks can be measured accurately.

Who is About Plumbing Inc.?

About Plumbing Inc. was founded by Greg Glore, a licensed plumber with over 20 years of experience. To learn more about their plumbing service and straightforward pricing for Jefferson County, MO, call About Plumbing Inc. today.