Water leaks are very frustrating, wouldn’t you agree? You never seem to find out where the leak is coming from. Thinking you can figure out the origin, you take your time and when you do discover it, it’s too late. If you keep stepping into a puddle of water every time you enter the kitchen, it doesn’t necessarily mean the washer is at fault. While it is the most common cause behind the leak, there could be a number of other reasons such as a blockage in the drain pipe, a break in the line underneath, loose bolt, etc. If you had called a plumber in Arlington, TX the first time you stepped in that puddle, you could have saved thousands of dollars in repairs.

To make it easy for you, so that you can pinpoint the leak for the water line repair in Arlington, TX, we have come up with a few tips to help you. We do advise that you call for plumbing in Arlington, TX once the leak has been found.

First, let’s talk about how to determine whether there’s even a leak or not.

Do a Water Meter Check

In order to make sure that there is, in fact, a leak and you didn’t just leave the bathroom faucet open, check the water meter. The most common place where the water meter is located is outside the house, near the outside stop tap. If you can’t find it there, then call the Billing Department and get the location.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Close all the taps inside and outside the house. Make sure that not even a drop of water is falling out a faucet

There are two ways to find out if there’s a leak:

  1. The leak detector will indicate whether you have a leak or not. (The leak detector is usually a small silver wheel or triangular-shaped dial that moves when water flows)
  2. Write down the meter reading and then check the reading again after 2 hours. (Make sure that during this time, no one uses water inside or outside the house). If the reading changes after 2 hours, then there’s a leak

Now that you know for a fact that there’s a leak, it’s time to find whether it is inside or outside the house. Before calling a plumber in Arlington, TX here’s what you need to do:

  • Shut off the main valve, which is usually located in the garage or the basement
  • Now, check the leak detector: if it shows no movement, then the leak is inside the house. On the other hand, if it shows movement, then the leak is outside the house

Locating the Leaks

Leaking Faucets

You might know this one… the washer. Faucet leaks are most of the times caused by a worn out rubber washer. The washer on sinks is located underneath the handle. This repair does not require shutting down the main water line that connects to the kitchen or bathroom. This is an easy repair that plumbers in Arlington, TX do often.

Leaking Toilets

One of the worst plumbing problems is toilet leaks. If not caught in time, this leak can cost you hundreds of dollars in repair. Locating a toilet leak is a little bit tricky. Lucky for you, we have got an idea that will help you confirm there’s a leak, in a matter of minutes. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Remove the toilet tank lid and add two drops of dye
  • Wait for 30 minutes and during this time, do not flush the toilet
  • If the dyed water reaches the toilet bowl, then there’s a leak

This is another common repair for a plumber in Arlington, TX. All that needs to be done is a replacement of the filling mechanism or the toilet flapper.

Flapper Valve Leaks

When the sealing flapper is not working properly, the toilet starts leaking. The flapper is located at the tank’s bottom and lifts when you flush the toilet. Do you hear the sound of water flowing constantly into the toilet bowl? This happens when the flapper is cracked or worn out, which allows water to fall into the bowl continuously.

Flush Handle Problems

Do you find yourself jiggling the flush handle to keep water from running into the toilet bowl? This usually happens when the chain or flush level bar is sticking. The good news is – you can easily fix this. All you need to do is tighten the nut securing the chain and it will come loose. If this doesn’t work, then you need to call a plumber in Arlington, TX.

Overflow Tube Leak

The water level in the tank should be up to the fill line, which can be found at the tank’s back. Ideally, this level should be ½” below the tube. When the water level rises, it starts spilling into the tube, which causes the leak. The plumber fixes this problem by adjusting the screw holding the inside valve or bending the float arm to a certain level so that when the tank starts filling, the water stops flowing as it reaches the fill line.

Locating Other Water Leaks

Leaks can also occur in the main water line, one that is connected to the entire plumbing system. As you know, water moves at a very high speed and a leak caused by his pressure can be easily spotted. However, when it comes to wastewater, here gravity is in effect and makes it quite hard to detect the leak.

The reason why wastewater leak should be handled by a plumber in Arlington, TX is that it keeps moving. By the time you do locate the leak, the damage has already been caused and that is when you spot the signs.

Some of the signs are as followed:

  • Wet and warped spots on the ceiling and wall
  • Discoloration and stains on the ceiling and floor (especially woodwork)
  • Puddle of water underneath the kitchen sink
  • Condensation that causes damage to the floors, ceilings, and walls (get the pipes insulated)

Now that you have an idea where and how to detect water leaks, you can call for a plumber in Arlington, TX. Benjamin Franklin offers emergency plumbing in Arlington, TX. The company offers all kinds of services that are performed by qualified plumbers. To get in touch with a plumber in Arlington, TX area, call 817-478-4119.