A water leak is one of the worst nightmares for a homeowner. Every year, a typical home can lose around 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water due to leaks, leading to significant waste of water and money, making your home run less efficiently.

And while some leaks are easy to discover, like dripping faucets and shower heads, some can go undetected for months or even years. For instance, you may not even know that your pipes are leaking unless you have them checked regularly.

An easy way to detect common household water leaks is through your water meter. To perform this simple leak check, you need to turn off all the water inside and outside the house. If during the test, the meter recorded water use, you may have a leak. Still, this can only record large leaks and even then, you are not fully certain about their location, in order to address the issue properly. That’s why you’ll need to investigate and pinpoint where exactly the leaks are.

But that’s just scratching the surface. If you’re suspecting your home might have water leaks, we’ve rounded up the biggest culprits that may be at fault, so keep on reading to find out what areas of your house is most prone to water leaks.

1. Rust or Corrosion/Burst Pipes

Rust is the leading cause of water leaks. Pipes can corrode over the years, which can introduce weakness especially at pipe joints. Burst pipes can also result when excessive water pressure is applied. Freezing temperatures cause pipes to expand and contract, which can result in cracks. These in turn can lead to burst pipes.

2. Water Softener Leaks

Leaks in water softeners arise from three things:

• Loose water line connections

• Defective rotor valves

• Cracked bypass valve assemblies

If the issue originates with the waterline, it can be fixed by simply tightening up the fitting. But components that are actually damaged should be replaced ASAP.

3. Water Supply Line Leaks

Water supply line leaks are hard to detect because the supply pipes are located underground. If the leak is bad enough, you will notice water will start to seep towards the surface right above the pipe in question. Sometimes the leak will travel along the pipe and make it to the meter on your home. If you see water in the box, you have a water supply leak.

4. Pool and Fountain Leaks

A leak as small as a pinhole can lead to nearly 1,000 gallons of wastewater each day. You will notice a huge uptick in your water bill, but you may not notice it for a month till you get your bill. Be on the lookout for:

• Loose tiles

• Pool shell cracks

• Algae formation right after chemical treatment

• Damp soil surrounding the pool

5. Faucet, Tub and Shower Leaks

Dripping faucets and shower heads are one of the more common leak sources. They waste a lot of water if left unchecked. They’re easy to repair, though.

6. Toilet Leaks

Another common water leak source is the toilet, which also wastes a ton of money and water. But like faucet leaks, they are also easy to repair. It may just involve a worn toilet flapper. You can run a simple test to see if you have a toilet leak. Remove the lid, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank, then wait. If you see the color show up in the toilet bowl within about 20 minutes, a leak is present.

Contact Water Removal Pros

If you think you have a household water leak that needs inspection, repair or replacement, contact us at 504-949-6900.