How to Discover Hidden Leaks in Your Home | SERVPRO of Bartow County

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

If you discover a water leak in your Bartow County home, call SERVPRO of Bartow County at 770-387-7455 for help cleaning up & restoring your property.

When it comes to a waste of resources, water leaks are a major culprit. Untreated leaks are responsible for nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted in homes throughout the United States, which is not only wasteful, but also rather costly.

Water leaks are often quite simple and inexpensive to fix, but finding them is typically the hard part. If you suspect a water leak in your home, a few minutes trying to find the leak will be time well spent. If you know where to look, you can often discover them quickly and have them fixed in a jiffy—meaning less wasted water and less wasted money, too!

How to Find Hidden Water Leaks in Your Home

• Check Your Water Bill Each Month | The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that an average family of four will use a maximum of 12,000 gallons of water per month. If you have a water leak, a higher than average water bill will often be the first indication, so it is wise to check it each month.
• Monitor Your Water Meter | Your water meter will likely be located on the exterior of your home or by the curb on your lot, and it can tell you important information about your water usage. Take a look at what the meter reads when there is no water being used in the home, and then take a look a few hours later—if you know that no water has been used and the numbers are different, that is a sure sign that a leak is lurking.
• Test Your Toilet with Food Coloring | Toilet leaks are a common culprit of water waste, but they are rather easy to test for. Start by dispensing a few drops of food coloring into the tank of your toilet, and then check in around 10 minutes later. If there is colored water in the toilet bowl, this is a sign that you have a leak.
• Use Your Nose | If a water leak is causing damage in your home, the first sign will often be a musty odor. Make sure you take note if you smell something like this in your home, as it is often a sign that water damage has given rise to mold, which is letting off a stench.

*If you suspect that your home has water damage, SERVPRO of Bartow County can help. We are here 24/7 with a team of water restoration professionals—contact us at (770) 387-7455 today for immediate service or visit www.SERVPRObartowcounty.com to learn more.