No one ever expects for a disaster to strike or something in their home to malfunction, but everyone should be prepared for the inevitable. Whether it is a leaking faucet or a broken dishwasher, you may encounter a situation where you have to deal with small leaks and wet spots in your home.
Excess water, no matter its location or the amount, is a problem in a variety of ways. You are going to need to deal with the leak – whether it is a small leak or a major water supply problem – and then handle the aftermath of that leak. Even a few drops of water can result in serious damage if it is allowed to continue to drip endlessly.
Once you contact a professional plumber to deal with the leak, it will be up to you to then deal with the water leak damage. In addition to the issues directly resulting from the leak, you may also have even more damage if mold began to develop.
Common Types of Water Leaks
There are a few kinds of leaks that you may encounter, depending on the circumstances of your home. A minor or slower leak tends to be less damaging (or even cause no damage at all) to your house, but the repairs can still be quite expensive. Whether your toilet is running incessantly without flushing or your sprinkler hose is shooting water into the air, these leaks are not devastating but can be costly to fix.
Slighter-worse leaks will cause a small amount of damage, and they will get worse over time if left unchecked. You may not notice them for a while which can then lead to the issue of a worsening problem. A leak in your wall could be minor at first, but if you do not notice the wall discoloration until it is severe, the damage could result in major repairs.
Finally, catastrophic leaks or major floods have the potential to cause damage that may be irreparable. The damage is easy to identify but will need to be taken care of by a professional in the plumbing or water damage restoration industry.
How to Tell You Have a Water Leak
If you are not dealing with the last of the water leak types (since that will be extremely obvious), you may not be readily aware of the leaks in your home. A professional plumber will be able to find leaks that others may not, so you may need to look very carefully to find the leak. Here are some top ways to tell if you have a water leak that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible:
Use the Water Meter
After you shut off the main water valve to your home, you can use the water meter to determine if you may have a leak in the house. If the sweep hand or the flow indicator is moving after you turn off the water, that may be an indication that you have a leak.
Additionally, you can use an increase in your water bills to see that you need a change immediately. Contacting a plumbing professional at this point would be advised.
Look for Accumulated Water on the Floor
A very obvious but sometimes overlooked sign that you may have a leak is accumulated standing water outside of appliances like the washing machine or refrigerator, the tub or shower, water heater, or a sink.
Often, people think that they may have simply spilled some water and that is where the puddle came from. Before they know it, the puddle has become much larger, and now they are dealing with all the water on the floor.
Listen for a Dripping Sound
When it comes to the sink or shower, a slow leak can be identified by a drip. Even if you do not hear the drip, you can check the basin for remnants of dripping water.
Use Food Coloring in the Toilet Tank
Toilets can definitely be the main culprits for a higher water bill and leak throughout the home. If you suspect that your toilet may be running (even sporadically) without actually flushing, drop some food coloring in the tank, wait 20 minutes, and check the bowl. If you find colored water, you have a leak.
Steps to Take After Finding a Water Leak
Depending on the type of leaks you have in your home, the steps you take upon finding it will vary. Use the shut-off valve to cut the water from your home so that your water bills do not continue to rise. After that, you should contact a plumber or water damage repair specialist to discuss how to fix the pipe or other location of the leaking water.
Another important step relates to your insurance. You should review your insurance policy to ensure that you have coverage for water damage, document the leak through photographic and video evidence, and file a claim.
An adjuster will come to your home and evaluate the damage from the leak or flooding. Following this, you can remediate the damages and the claim will be settled. Our experts at One Call Services can help you with the filing of this claim and making sure that your home is able to get repaired professionally.
Contact Our Santa Clara, CA, Water Damage Experts
If you are a resident or commercial building owner who is dealing with water leaks that are wreaking havoc on your water bill and your house or property, contact our water damage experts at One Call Service in Santa Clara, CA.
From leaking pipes to running water in the toilet, a puddle in front of the washing machine to dripping faucets, leaks in your building can cause serious damage and cost you far more money than you may be ready to spend. With the experts at One Call Service, we can evaluate your leak situation, determine the cause, and provide you with the solutions you need.
Contact us today to request a free estimate for your leak damage repair.
