3 Ways to Detect a Water Leak in Your Home

Water leaks can lead to costly damages if they aren’t detected early. Thankfully, these leaks don’t come without warning signs. Here are three signs you should look for when searching your Sterling home for leaks.

Ways to detect water leaks1. Extremely high water bills

If your water bills have been resting at about the same place each month but suddenly start to spike, this can be a sign of a leak. If you haven’t made any drastic chances to your water usage, you may want to investigate your pipes or water meter to see if you can detect a leak, especially if your water bill has been high for the past few months. Also, check out some helpful advice on summertime water conservation.

2. Musty smell with mold and mildew present on the wall

Mold and mildew can often be found in moist, dark places. These bacteria can often grow on shower walls, but if you find them on non-shower walls, it could be because you have a leaking pipe. Additionally, stagnant water often emanates a musty smell. If your bathroom has been thoroughly cleaned and you still smell must, there could be a hidden leak somewhere within your bathroom walls that is causing water to accumulate.

3. Water stained or damaged walls, ceilings, and floors

These are a tell-tale sign of water damage. If you notice warping, sagging, or staining on your walls or ceilings and you can’t explain the source of it, you could have a water leak. You should also pay close attention to your floors. If your flooring seems warped or damaged in some areas, a leak, coming from an area near where the damage is occurring, could be to blame. Humidity can also cause damage, such as warping and staining, so make sure to rule it out as a cause before you begin searching for leaks. If you notice damage to your Sterling walls, ceilings, and floors, coupled with a high water bill and a musty smell, you probably have a leak. It is best to seek professional help from a plumber in order to find out where your leak is located and properly fix the problem. Once you have determined there is a leak, it is best to act as quickly as possible so that no further damage is caused. Call Cardinal Plumbing, Heating & Air Inc. at 703-721-8888 today to get your Sterling, VA system checked out by a professional plumber!