Schrader Plumbing Blog
5 Commonly Asked Questions About Hidden Leaks
Schrader Plumbing technicians are gurus in leak detection and repair. It is every homeowner’s nightmare to find a burst or leaky pipe since this wastes water and can lead to mold growth and structural damage. Most often, plumbing pipes in a home are hidden from sight, so locating leaks is difficult and requires licensed plumbers with high-tech leak locating equipment.
There are frequently asked questions we hear from customers about the hidden leaks they may have in their homes. Hopefully, they can assist you in dealing with potential problems and avoid the worst-case scenarios of leaky plumbing.
Can I locate hidden leaks on my own?
In theory, yes—but you won’t be able to locate them with the necessary precision entailed without the equipment and education to excavate the pipe, remove the leaking section, and replace it. You can do detective work to determine that you do indeed have hidden leaks by checking the water meter, but once you know about the leaks, it’s best to call a professional plumbing company for the actual leak detection/repair job.
How do professional plumbers find hidden leaks?
Leak detection methods improve each year, and Schrader Plumbing uses the most current practices and equipment. Detection starts with plumbing knowledge to narrow down where leaks are most likely occurring. After the plumbers have ascertained a general sense of where the leak is coming from, they use tools such as acoustic listening devices where they can hear the sound of water escaping and special thermal scanners that pick up on temperature differences and pressure rises in areas where water is leaving a pipe. Video camera inspection equipment we utilize inserted into the plumbing can pinpoint leaks and their size with great precision.
How much water can be wasted from a hidden leak?
Oftentimes- when one hears the term pin-hole leak- it doesn’t sound that bad. . Yet the cumulative water waste from these leaks can be staggering. But- the facts can be sobering. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, The average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. As a basic guideline, if a family of four has water use per month in excess of 12,000 gallons, it means there are major leaks.
What are some common, more minor household leak causes?
Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
Can I prevent leaks from starting?
You can stop some leaks through preventive measures, but not all. Unfortunately, one cause of hidden leaks is a type of corrosion that occurs in copper pipes called formicary corrosion. This corrosion leads to pinhole leaks, which are difficult to catch. Formicary corrosion comes from chemicals in the water or in the air of a house, and it’s hard to stop it from happening. The best way to avoid leaks is to have repiping done for the house if the plumbing is old (more than 50 years).
Schrader Plumbing has emergency services available to handle your home’s hidden leak problems. If you are wanting assistance locating leaks to find out why your water bill is higher than usual, please call us today to help!
Categories: Leak Detection, Water Lines,By: Michelle Kurcina
Last modified:
Last Modified: August 27, 2021 at 6:40 pm
