While you’re busy planning your next backyard barbecue or relaxing in the shade, a tiny crack in a pipe could be making a huge mess behind one of your walls. Most people think a leak will be obvious, like a fountain in the front yard. However, the truth is that most summer water damage happens slowly and quietly. Staying ahead of the game right now helps you keep your house dry and your summer budget exactly where it needs to be.
Watch Your Water Meter
Your water meter is the most honest tool in your house for detecting leaks. It tracks every single drop that enters your plumbing system. Try a simple test on a day when everyone is out of the house by making sure every faucet and hose is tightly shut off. Head outside to the meter box and take a look at the little dial or the digital display to see if the numbers are creeping upward. If that dial is spinning, you have a leak somewhere.
Search for the Wet Spots in the Sun
Summer heat makes the ground dry and hard. This makes it much easier to find leaks in your outdoor irrigation lines. Walk along the perimeter of your house and look for patches of grass that stay bright green and soggy even when the rest of the yard is starting to turn brown from the sun. If you see a puddle forming near your outdoor spigot or a soft spot in the dirt where the sprinklers run, you likely have a loose connection or a cracked pipe hidden beneath the soil.
Check the Coolers and Condensate Lines
Since your air conditioner works overtime during the hottest months, the line that carries the condensation away can easily become a source of hidden trouble. This small plastic pipe is supposed to drain the water outside. If it gets clogged with dust or algae, the water will back up and overflow into your attic or your hallway closet. You should look at the secondary drain pan under your AC unit to see if there’s any standing water. That pan should always be dry.
Look Out for a Running Toilet
Toilets are the number one cause of high water bills during the summer. They can leak thousands of gallons without ever making a loud splashing sound. Test your toilets by dropping a few bits of dark food coloring into the back tank, then wait about 20 minutes without flushing. If you see that color start to bleed into the bowl water, it means the rubber seal at the bottom is old and brittle from the summer heat. Replacing a worn-out flapper isn’t expensive. However, letting it leak could cost you hundreds of dollars by the time September rolls around.
Making this a regular part of your home maintenance routine ensures you’re not paying for water that flows straight into the sewer. You’ll have more money for your summer plans. If you live in Waldorf, MD or a surrounding area and need leak detection services, make your first call to A Better Plumber.
