PREVENT WATER WASTAGE
In a world where water is an increasingly precious resource, no one likes to think about wasting a drop. What is worse is that the impact of a water leak does not stop at wasted resources.
Water leaks also can cause a lot of damage to the home and end up costing you a fortune. Not to mention, water damage can also lead to health troubles for anyone in your home by creating mould in hidden areas. If you have water leaks in your home — and almost every home develops a leak at some point — you will want to put a stop to them as soon as possible to protect your home, your budget, and the environment.
As a specialist leak investigation plumber, Priority Plumbing possess extensive experience evaluating and investigating homes, commercial buildings, and industrial sites for signs of water leakages. We highly recommend that home and business owners monitor and regularly check any structures for signs of damage and monitor your water consumption periodically.
Signs of a Water Leak
- High water bills, have you had a sudden increase in your water bill??
- Constantly running water meter
- Efflorescence – a white salty build up on concrete, paths, paving and walls.
- Timber floors rotting, warping, or cupping.
- A dank musty smell emanating from areas of the home.
- Mould or mildew forming
- Staining of carpet and floor coverings
- Warm spots on floors
- Water seepage and or physical moisture in walls
- Hissing/dripping sounds at night
- A drop in water pressure
- Rusty pipes
- Water marks on Ceilings or gyprock walls
- Sagging ceilings or cornices starting to crack or move.
- Peeling / Blistering paint and crumbling plaster
- Timber door frames and architraves swelling and splitting.
- Metal door frames rusting
- Cracking of brickwork, concrete, or external perimeter paths
- Areas of the garden that are particularly green or experienced rapid growth or constantly damp.
Simple Leak Checks
A simple check you can do to see if you have a leak:
- Read the water meter and record the number
- Do not use any water for an hour or two – including flushing the toilet!
- Reading the meter again and see if there has been any change in numbers
If the reading has changed, you may have a leak. Toilet cisterns, dripping faucets, leaky irrigation valves and air conditioner condensate lines are the most common culprits when it comes to plumbing leaks. We suggest you check these fixtures first.
You can check for the most common leak – a leaking toilet vale – quite simply by yourself. If the valve in the cistern is not making a tight water seal, water will constantly leak into the toilet pan and continuously refill the cistern.
- To check this firstly take the lid off your cistern, flush the toilet, and wait for the cistern to completely refill.
- Put a few drops of dye – simple food colouring will do – into the cistern.
- Wait for 30 minutes, longer if you suspect a minor leak, and do not use the toilet.
- If there is any change to the colour of the water in the toilet pan there is a leak on your cistern valve.
Expert Assistance
Should you notice any of the above issues it is best to request expert assistance as soon as possible. Delay may simply exacerbate damage to the property. Contact Priority Plumbing to request an inspection from one of our highly qualified technicians today.
If a leak is in your pipe work, that Priority Plumbing locates and repairs on your behalf, you may be eligible for a once-off allowance equal to 50 per cent of the water lost (capped at 600 kilolitres) if certain conditions are met. To find out more about the leakage allowance please refer to the SA Water website located HERE.
