Posts Tagged ‘leaks’

A How-To Guide for Checking for Water Leaks

Friday, December 17th, 2010

December 14, 2010 — Pesky water leaks don’t always make themselves known through audible drips or visible puddles. In fact, the most troublesome leaks can often go undetected and cause homes or businesses to waste thousands of gallons of water as a result. Identifying water leaks, however, does not require sophisticated tools or machinery. With the help of some tips provided by American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts, anyone can detect a leak before the matter gets out of hand.

“With local residents working on curtailing costs and environmental resources, fixing water leaks should be considered a priority for the community,” said Jimmy Carter, owner of American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts. He goes on to put things in perspective by noting that a leak the size of a pinhead can waste 360,000 gallon of water a year – an amount enough to fill 12,000 bathtubs to the overflow mark.

According to Carter, members of the local community should be constantly vigilant of the water use in their homes. He says the following steps should be taken regularly to accurately monitor for possible water leaks:

- Check for changes to the water meter when there is no water being used – mark the indicator on the meter; don’t use any water for an hour; then check the meter. If the indicator moved, a leak may be present.
- Compare water bills from month to month to see if the bill escalates over a period of weeks or months.
- Inspect walls or floors for wet, spongy, moist or discolored areas.
- Examine building foundation for cracks, uneven growth of vegetation or earth shifts.
- Conduct a “Bucket Test” to check pools and spas for water loss. A loss of one-eighth inch or more of water in 24 hours is suspicious.
- Monitor the pool’s automatic filler; if it is continually releasing water, there may be a leak.

“If members of the local community notice any of the above symptoms occurring at their home or business, they should contact a professional immediately,” said Carter. “Left unaddressed, water leaks can cause costly damage to a building’s structure that may require labor-extensive repairs.”

American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts specializes in the accurate, non-destructive detection of hidden water, sewer and other leaks. Using proprietary equipment and methods, leaks are located without destroying walls or digging holes, thereby avoiding unnecessary property and other damage.

For detailed directions on the Meter Test and Bucket Test, please visit www.americanleakdetection.com. For more information about American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts, please contact Jimmy Carter at 800-755-6697.

About American Leak Detection
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Palm Springs, California, American Leak Detection is dedicated to resource protection and eco-friendly services. American Leak Detection is the world leader in the accurate, non-destructive detection of all types of leaks including hidden water and sewer leaks. From swimming pool cracks to concealed plumbing systems, the smallest leak is located with the most advanced, sophisticated electronic devices – without bashing holes in walls or digging up the deck or yard. For the last nine years, American Leak Detection has been ranked #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine’s “Maintenance Products and Services” franchise sector. In February 2008, The Wall Street Journal included American Leak Detection on its list of the 25 top high-performing franchises. For more information on American Leak Detection, call 800.755.6697 or visit www.americanleakdetection.com.

Water-main break encases home in ice

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Kansas City –

http://news.yahoo.com/video/kansascity-kmbc-18211647/water-main-break-encases-home-in-ice-23484048

Shows how important infrastructure maintenance is as well as how hard cold weather can be on your pipes.

Prevent Leaks During the Cold of 2010

Monday, January 4th, 2010

As 2010 looks to be extra cold for the middle states, make sure you and your home are prepared for freezing conditions.

See what the Farmer’s Almanac has to say about the winter of 2010:

According to the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac, this winter will see more days of shivery conditions: a winter during which temperatures will average below normal for about three-quarters of the nation.

A large area of numbingly cold temperatures will predominate from roughly east of the Continental Divide to west of the Appalachians (see map). The coldest temperatures will be over the northern Great Lakes and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But acting almost like the bread of a sandwich, to this swath of unseasonable cold will be two regions with temperatures that will average closer to normal—theWest Coast and the East Coast.

This video from CBS explains issues with broken pipes and freezing plumbing.

If you suspect you have a leak contact The Original Leak Specialists.

Symptoms of a slab leak

Monday, November 9th, 2009

The sound of running water, when no water should be running, could indicate a slab leak.

If you hear running water in your home when all should be quiet, means there is flowing water somewhere.

Your home’s plumbing is pressurized and static when all appliances and faucets are in the off position. The sound of running water is created by the vibration of the flow of water against the piping system. It means an outlet from the system is allowing flow. You will need to check all  faucets, toilets, sprinklers, as well as water connected appliances like refrigerators, clothes washers, dish washers, or water purification systems.

If you don’t find visual clues to the source of the sound of water, it could mean you have a hidden leak in the wall or under the slab.

A hot spot on the floor could indicate a hot water line leak in your slab.

Hot water lines are usually insulated and don’t heat the floor unless it was built as a radiant heating system.

If you have pets, you may notice they gravitate to a certain spot on the floor. Check to see if it feels warmer than usual.

Cracks in walls or floors could be damage from a slab leak.

There are several possible factors in the appearance of cracks in walls and floors. If you live in a seismically unstable area, it could instead have to do with shifting ground due to earthquakes.

Even if ground shifting is due to unstable ground, it could also mean the area under your property has been compromised by  water flow from a leak under your slab. If untreated, a water leak could create a massive void under the foundation. This void can put stress on the foundation, and increased stress on the foundation can cause cracks in the floors and walls.

Mildew or excessive moisture under carpets could indicate your slab is cracked and the pipes inside are leaking.

Cracks in a slab due to a leak allow moisture into the flooring. Drywall will wick the moisture up, and create an ideal environment for mold to grow behind the wall. Mold is an environmental hazard and you need to make sure that proper clean up and restoration of the property is performed. Before the restoration is performed, the mold needs to be removed. Then, the location of the source of moisture that feeds the mold can be identified and repaired.

High water bills could indicate a leak. Although a high water bill could indicate a water leak behind the wall or in your pool, plumbing under the slab is also suspect.

Unusually high water bills could occur for several reasons. Sometimes the meter is not working properly and needs to be replaced. You will need to contact your water authority for this kind of issue.

If your meter is working properly, then it comes down to usage.

Conduct the meter test to see if your toilets are leaking or if you have a hidden water leak.

The wrong way:

Bad slab leak detection

The right way:

accurate slab leak detection