Our fantastic leak detectorists have been hailed our heroes of the waterways so now it’s time to look closer to home. Can you hear the dripping of the taps at night or does your shower head spurt out some excess water after you’ve stepped out? Sometimes a leak is obvious, but other times, leaks go unnoticed.
We know our members love to help out where they can, and there’s no better way to start than by looking at your own home. Sadly, we don’t all have the deep pockets to purchase high-tech equipment for detecting leaks in our home, but as always Greenredeem is here to give you the life hacks to detect leaks at home.
You’d be amazed at how much water is wasted each year from a leaky loo, so it’s time to save water.
Monitor your water usage to detect leaks at home
Paying attention to your water bill is not quite what it used to be. With automated direct debits and online portals, some of us are guilty of not knowing too much about our water bills. Now that receiving paper bills is a thing of the past, keeping track of how much we’re spending on water can be more challenging.
Now and then you may notice your bill go up, and who wouldn’t, we’re money-savvy people who like to account for every penny. Yet, there are only a few people who are accounting for every drop of water.
It’s one thing to check a bill amount now and then, but by having any type of water meter, you can monitor any changes in your water usage. This can help you detect a leak much faster than all of sudden having a burst pipe in your kitchen! Not to mention you can save money – around £100!
Hidden leaks at home
Without the high-tech equipment of a leak detectorist, or a burst pipe, knowing there is a leak can be difficult. There are plenty of signs which you can look out for such as checking for mould, peeling paint or wet patches on ceilings or skirting boards. Here are some of the most common causes that can be difficult to detect.
Low water pressure in showers/taps
We’re so used to turning on the tap and water coming out, that the only time we really notice anything wrong is when the water stops altogether. The fact that your shower has dropped slightly in pressure might not bother you because you’re still managing to rinse your hair, but it could be the sign of a leak further up the pipes.
If you think you’ve felt a change in pressure, you can check if there’s a leak by turning off all your fixtures then turning one back on. If the pressure is significantly higher than what it was, there might be a leak.
Leaky loos
We often ‘spend a penny’ multiple times a day in our homes, which is why it is common to discover a leak in our loos. A great hack for knowing if you have a leak in your loo is to put some food colouring into the tank of the toilet. Wait 10 minutes, and if when you return the water in the bowl is the same colour as the food colouring, you have a leak.
Leaks in your appliances
Is your sink, dishwasher or washing machine struggling to drain? You might have a blockage. While a leak and a block aren’t the same, they are just as important as each other. A blockage causes a build-up of water which, with a certain amount of pressure can lead to a burst pipe. More often than not, the cause of a burst or a leak can be because of a block somewhere else.
If you’re noticing your water suddenly slowly draining away, then it might be an idea to call in a professional before things get any worse!
