30 Oct How To Find A Water Leak In Your House?
What Makes Water Leak Detection Tricky?
A water leak can be a very tricky problem to find and solve in your house. The issue here lies in how fluid water is, capable of travelling large distances across your household to a point of accumulation. As such, while you may visually spot a leak, that may not be the point of penetration in your house or even the source of the water. In fact, certain leakages do not even give any visual indication to homeowners.
Leaks Can Occur Anywhere
Water leaks can happen anywhere in your home, seen or unseen. This includes any sink, drain, shower or toilet. Furthermore, water may penetrate your roof, walls or ceiling from external sources. Any droplet that leaves a pipe or designated water path before the destination is trouble.
How then can homeowners firstly determine that their house does have water leakage, and secondly find the point of entry? In this article we cover symptoms of common leakages as well as the areas to expect water seepage.
Check Your Utilities Bill And Water Meter
A very simple check for any pipe leakages that requires no expertise is to look for changes in your monthly water utilities bill. If you find that your bills have increased despite having no change in consumption behaviour for the month, then it may be time for you to investigate.
The investigation can be done with an equally simple test. Shut off the main water valve in your house momentarily and observe your water meter. If after an hour, you find that the reading has changed, then a water leakage is most likely in play.
Other Signs Of Leakage
Leakages may not always originate from pipes, as such the water meter is not a complete method for checking for leaks. Here are other common signs of leakage:
- Hearing the sound of water running or constant dripping during the night when no water is running
- Water dripping from your ceiling
- Your walls or flooring have wet areas even though no spillage has occurred
- Foul odours in an area with no other obvious source
- Discoloration of your walls or flooring
- Peeling paint from your walls
Having ascertained that your house does indeed have a leakage, you next step is to investigate and determine the source. To aid you, we suggest a systematic approach to checking the various common sources of seepage.
Check Your Shower Area
The bathroom contains three main areas where leakages can be expected. Firstly, the waterproofing capabilities of your walls and flooring in the shower area are constantly put to the test daily. This is a wet area 24/7, meaning that your tiles and grout have to be maintained sufficiently well to continuously repel water.
If your flooring or walls have obvious changes in colour, with dirt mixed in, this is a sign that water has successfully penetrated past their surface. In particular, you should check the area where the wall and flooring meet as this is typically the most vulnerable portion.
Check Your Toilet
To check your toilet, remove the top of the tank and listen carefully for a hissing sound. If you do indeed hear this sound, then it is an indication of a leak. If you are unable to hear the sound or wish to test further, then sprinkle some food colouring into the tank. Observe your toilet bowl for the appearance of any coloured water.
Check Hot Water Tanks
Hot water tanks are prone to leaks but may be difficult to detect if it is hidden in your home. Firstly, similar to taps, check the valve before looking for water signs around the hot water tank. Often times, water leaking from the tank will leave brown stains on your walls, while their release may coincide with a loud hissing sound.
Check Your Roof & Balcony
Internally, you may check for signs of dripping from your ceiling or for peeling paint. Other than your ceiling, an effort should be made to visually look at your walls for the same symptoms. Since water can travel along the hidden areas of your house, it can accumulate in unsuspecting parts. A visual inspection of your roof should be conducted as well. You can look for the following:
- Holes or chipping of tiles
- Build-up of debris, particularly along water exit paths
- Formation of puddles
Check Your Swimming Pool
If your home has a swimming pool, then expect that without regular maintenance, leaks will occur sooner or later. Swimming pools require strong waterproofing systems due to their constant exposure to water. A check for swimming pool leakage involve turning off pumps and observing for differences in water levels after an hour or so.
Check All Taps & Faucets
Leaking faucets are an obvious source. If you witness dripping from your tap even when it is turned off, then you likely have a faulty faucet. However, leaky faucets are not the only source of leaks for taps. To check further, you may grab a flashlight and look under the sink. If you detect moisture, water stains, mould or peeling material, then a water leak is likely to be occurring.
Check Your Basement
Another area that is prone to water seepage is your basement. Basements are in constant contact with the ground or soil, as such they are under threat from moisture. Over time, moisture wears down your external waterproofing systems. This leaves your internal systems to prevent actual penetration into your home. Checks to be made include looking for peeling paint, discolouration or mouldy smells.
The Danger Of Water Leakages
Waterproofing is crucial in any home for safeguarding against seepages. When given free reign, water can be a destructive force. It accumulates in hidden areas, creating a moist environment that is prime for mould growth. This weakens the house’s structural integrity over time and thus poses a serious risk to all inhabitants.
Rather than letting water have its way with your home, immediate action should be taken. If you suspect a water leakage, then contacting a waterproofing company should be at the top of your priorities. Stopping any leakage early is the key to safeguarding your home’s foundational structure.
Choose ProSeal Contracts for Your Waterproofing Needs
ProSeal Contracts is a waterproofing company in Singapore with more than 20 years’ experience. As one of the leading waterproofing contractor companies, we use the highest quality of materials to ensure long lasting results. Trust us to assess, choose and apply the right waterproofing procedures for your building’s needs.
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