One insidious plumbing problem that many homeowners will experience at one time or another are leaks in plumbing pipes and systems, necessitating leak detection services. A broken pipe can be caused by extreme cold, corrosion, accidents, wear and tear, and especially in the Kingwood and Houston areas, damage of the pipes from invasive root growth of plants and trees.
So can you detect the leak yourself, or do you need to contact a Kingwood plumber to do the job?
The answer to that question really depends on where the leak is and how easily accessible it is.
If you think you have a swimming pool leak, the problem may be from a leak in the plaster, or it could be due to a leak in the swimming pool plumbing and pipes itself. A leaking swimming pool is often the easiest to identify as you can physically see the water line drop more quickly than it typically should. Also, if there is lawn and landscaping around the pool and some areas are greener or wetter than others, that may be a sign that there is an underground leak.
Another clue to an undetected leak is higher than normal water bills. As the City of Houston has wince inducing water and sewer rates that seem to continue to climb, this can be very noticeable. To determine if there is a leak somewhere on the property, turn off all of the systems and appliances that use water (don’t forget the ice maker in the refrigerator.) Make a note of the reading on the water meter. Wait 15 to 20 minutes and take a second reading. If there has been a change in the water meter reading, you most likely have a leak.
Automatic inground sprinkler systems are a wonderful conveniences, particularly in the hot and humid Houston area where the intense heat can cause a lot of stress on plants, lawns and landscapes. However, sprinkler systems can frequently be an area where plumbing repairs are needed. One way to keep on top of the condition of your sprinkler system is to do periodic checks on the performance of your installation and have it checked out by a plumber or sprinkler system expert once a year.
As the homes in the Houston area are built on concrete slab foundations, slab leaks are another area that can not only cause plumbing problems, but also structural problems for the home if the leak goes undetected for too long. A slab leak can also be one of the most difficult to find. In these circumstances, it is often best to call on a professional plumber to find the leak, assess the damage, and fix the problem.
If you suspect that you have a leak on your property and the source is not immediately evidence, your best recourse is to call a plumber with experience in leak detection. Kingwood homes may experience leaks from a variety of sources; however, professional plumbers utilize tools that are much more accurate and much less invasive, such as acoustic and line tracking systems.