You definitely don’t want a four-figure water bill. But even if it’s comma-free, it could be high enough to merit a common question: Do I have a water leak?
Southern Trust Home Services can dispatch an expert to help track down your water leak in the Roanoke area, but here are a few things you can do yourself to make sure water isn’t draining to who-knows-where and draining your bank account in the process.
- Water meter. First, turn off the main water valve to your house. Then see if the meter is still spinning. If it is, then the leak is between the meter and your house. This could mean your water line is leaking, but at least you’ve narrowed down the location of the leak.
- Remove the lid from the tank and listen closely for hissing or any other sounds that might suggest a leak. You can also squeeze a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Wait a few minutes, and check the toilet bowl. If you see dye, then you have a leaky flapper valve. This can lead to water waste. Check other toilets in the house for similar issues.
- Make sure all of your spigot valves are shut tight. You can also place a long metal screwdriver on the spigot and hold it next to your ear and use it like a stethoscope of sorts to listen for hissing or other indicators there is an internal leak.
- Water heater. Inspect the pressure relief valve and look for puddles around the water heater. There may be other sources of condensate, so mop it up and check the spot a day later.
- Leaky shower heads are a common source of water loss, as are leaky tub and sink faucets. We can easily replace a shower head in your Roanoke home, but it’s a fairly simple process you can likely do yourself.
Even if you can’t determine the exact location of a leak, knowing its approximate source can save time and money if you ultimately have to call in a plumber. Contact us immediately so we can make any necessary plumbing repairs before you find another comma in your Roanoke utility bill.
