Leaks are not a fun thing to encounter. They can be inconvenient, cause damage, and even lead to unsanitary conditions and wasted water if left alone for enough time. This is why having a local plumber on hand to help with your leak detection and patching is such an invaluable asset.
But many times you’ll be the only one who can detect whether a leak is happening or not. While this sounds like an intimidating job, it’s actually quite simple when you think about it. Human beings have 5 sense–touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. Each of those can help you determine if your plumbing system is leaking or having trouble.
Keep reading to determine whether you need a professional plumber in Ferndale, or if you’re in good shape.
Touch
Moisture is easy to detect via touch. When you’re near a pipe in your home, or inspecting your plumbing system in your basement, try running your hand along the pipes and see how they feel. Sure, some of them might be dusty but you can always wash your hands afterwards. What we’re looking for is moisture.
If you detect drops of water on a hot day, this could just be condensation which is perfectly natural. But if you feel water droplets on one pipe but on in other areas of your plumbing system, then you might have just picked up on a leak!
Sight
As long as you’ve got some light, your eyeballs will be very helpful when determining if there’s a leak. Try to find dark spots in your ceiling or floor where water might have coalesced. Stains and other puddles can signify a drip from somewhere in your plumbing system, and they’re very easy to detect if you know what they look like.
Smell
Leaking pipes can sometimes allow mold to grow. Think about it, a puddle that forms in your basement from a leaking pipe is the perfect place for a mold infestation. It’s damp, dark, and out of the way.
Luckily, mold is very easy to smell. If you detect any odors that seem like “dirty socks” or mildew, then you’ve likely got a mold infestation as a result of a pipe leak that needs to be fixed.
Hearing
This is an obvious one. You probably already know what a pipe leak sounds like. Close your eyes and imagine a dripping pipe making that drip drip drip. Or maybe you hear a gushing sound or running water in your wall. This can be an easy way for you to detect a budding pipe leak that needs professional attention.
Taste
Here’s a question–what does your water taste like? Is it refreshing enough to drink any day of the year? Or do you opt for bottled water any chance you get? If your home is stocked full of bottled water then there might be a contaminant in your water that makes it taste funky.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a sign of a leak, and depending on where you get your water from, it’s most likely not a dangerous contaminant. But if it affects the taste of your water, you might want to invest in a water purifier or water filtration system. Then you’ll finally be able to kick the bottled water habit and drink from your very own faucet!
Our team of Home Performance Experts has served the I-5 corridor from Blaine to Marysville, Oak Harbor to Concrete, and the San Juan Islands since 1972 with a mission of Improving Lives™. We look forward to serving you too! Contact Barron Plumbing today for leak detection services.