According to studies, it’s estimated that the average American home wastes around 10,000 gallons of water annually, due to household water leaks. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that around 10% of homes have one or more water leaks that may be wasting around 90 gallons or water each and every day. Sadly, most of these water leaks tend to go undetected, which not only wastes water, but it also leads to water damage and an expensive repair bill. In this article, we will reveal seven signs that you probably have a broken water line in your home.
1. An Increase in Your Water Bills
Some homeowners don’t track their utility bills carefully, but it can be a real help when you want an early warning on a wide variety of problems. If your water bills have risen dramatically in a short period of time, this is a good indicator that you have a water leak somewhere in your home plumbing system. At this point, it’s a good idea to take a look around your home for any other more obvious signs of a water leak. Pay close attention to areas, such as wet rings on ceilings, drywall that feels damp, puddles of water and more damp areas that require attention. If your water leak is located in the foundation of your home, you may see water that’s leaking up into the walls and floor of your basement. Evidence of standing water in and around your home should be taken seriously. Shut off the water supply valve and contact your local licensed plumber immediately. Then can locate the source of the water leak quickly, fix it and suggest a course of action to get your home back to normal.
2. Lowered Water Pressure
We become familiar with our water pressure quickly, it’s great for showering and other tasks if it’s in the 50-80 pounds per square inch or PSI range. If you notice that the water pressure has dropped at a single plumbing fixture, then the source of the problem is likely to be located at that point. But, if you have lower water pressure in the rest of your home, it’s a sign of a more serious problem. Water leaks, clogged pipes, ruptured lines and other issues can all cause your water pressure to drop quickly.
3. Strange Plumbing Noises
Under normal operating conditions, your home plumbing system shouldn’t create excessive volumes of noise. But, if you can hear strange noises, including gurgling, burbling, banging and others, this can be a warning that something is wrong. There are times when a hidden water leak can create sufficient noise when it’s running along the internal surface of the wall. This may be more noticeable if you’re not running any plumbing fixtures or water using appliances and you can still hear gurgling noises. If you’re concerned about strange plumbing noises, play it safe, shut off the water at the main supply valve and contact your local certified plumber.
4. Rusty Looking Tap Water
When plumbing pipes are failing, they tend to release rusty or discolored water into your taps and other plumbing fixtures. If you only have a single fixture that’s affected, then it’s likely that the leak and corrosion are located at that point only. But, if you notice that all your water seems to be discolored, you probably have a corroded water main. The cause of the discoloration is dirt that starts to infiltrate your water supply through cracks and breaks. This can make your water unsafe to drink because it’s likely to contain bacteria and other pathogens that are unhealthy. If your water has a reddish color, this is a sign that extensive corrosion has taken place and the pipes are rusting badly. In both cases, it’s important to get the pipe repaired quickly to make the water safer to use and to limit potential damage to your home.
5. Puddles of Standing Water
If you notice patches of wet and soggy grass in your front yard, this can be caused by heavy rainfall and poor drainage problems. But, if you seem to have a wet spot even when the weather is dry this may indicate a leaking underground pipe. This situation will only get worse over time and eventually, it may even cause damage to the foundations of your home. Contact your local certified plumber, they can locate and fix the problem for you quickly.
6. Frequent Drain Clogs
If your home plumbing system is susceptible to frequent drain clogging issues, it can be a sign that you have problems with the water main line. Dealing with surface clogs is possible without formal plumbing training but deeper clogs are tricky to remove. To ascertain the nature of the problem, it will be necessary to feed a drain line camera into the line. This will locate the problem quickly and the plumber can then suggest a course of action to fix the problem.
7. Recent Yard Work
Another possible cause of a broken water line is recent activity in or around your home. If you’re experiencing problems and heavy equipment or digging has taken place in the area that could be the cause. This typically happens during landscaping projects or when other outdoor work is carried out on the property. If you’re planning this type of work, take some time to mark out the location of underground lines to prevent any damage.
The Scale of the Problem
Every modern home has a plumbing system consisting of an interconnected network of pipes, fixtures, and drains. The water main line links the home plumbing system to the public water supply to ensure that you have water on-demand when you need it. The main water lines are typically located underground which means that it’s hard to detect a water leak. There are a number of reasons why a water line leak can occur, including high water pressure, root clogs, aging pipes, seismic activity, ground movement, and more.
If you’re concerned about water leaks, contact your local licensed plumber for expert help and advice today.
