An abnormal increase in the water bill is often a sign of a leak that appears discreetly in one of the corners of a house. If after the reading you receive an alert from your supplier indicating an unusual increase in your water consumption, it is important to act quickly. Detecting where water loss is coming from is the first thing to do. Once found, you should immediately contact a professional to carry out the necessary repairs.
Here are our tips and tricks that can help you identify the source of your water leak.
Test your water meter
This is one of the best solutions for recognizing if you have a leak in your plumbing. All you need to do is test your water meter. First, turn off all your taps and appliances that use water and then take a reading of the meter figures. Make sure the water is not used for a long time (at least two hours) and then look at the meter again. If the numbers have changed, it means there is a water leak somewhere in your house.
Check your water consumption history
Does your water bill indicate overconsumption? you will need to act quickly and understand the origin of this unusual consumption. Check your previous bills to find out if the increase only concerns the bill received after the meter reading. If this is the case and you have not changed your consumption habits, this means that you have a water leak which is responsible for your inflated bill.
Use food coloring
Most water leaks occur in toilets and flushes. They can be the result of a worn or scaled seal, a faulty valve, a poorly adjusted or defective float, etc. To find out if there is a leak, pour dye into the tank. Wait a while then check the color of the water. If the bottom of the bowl becomes colored, you have a leak.
Inspect faucets and fixtures
If there is no leak in the toilet, examine your faucets and appliances that are connected to your plumbing systems. In the event of a leak, call a professional immediately to carry out the necessary repairs and water heater repair.
Examine joints, connections and pipes
A loose nut, worn gasket or punctured pipe can leak water and cause a leak. In this case, you must act quickly and repair the defective parts to permanently stop the flow of water.
To detect a water leak on a pipe made of copper, simply pass absorbent paper along the length of the pipe. In the event of humidity, you have therefore detected the origin of your water loss.
Locate a leak between the meter and the house
If there is no visible leak inside your home, check for leaks outside. Look at the pipes that connect your home and the water meter. To do this, first turn off the water shut-off valve then look at your meter. If it is still spinning, it is a sign of a leak outside your home. In this case, call a plumbing professional to take care of the necessary repairs.
What tool is used to detect a water leak?
If you are unable to spot the water leak on your own, contact a specialized company that has the expertise and the right tools to accurately detect any kind of water leak. Otherwise you can use a detection tool. On the market, there is a wide choice of sophisticated devices that use technology to control the temperature of the water passing through your pipes and faucets.