It’s normal to deal with plumbing leaks from time to time while owning a home. You might notice leaks, drips, or spikes in your water bill indicating you have a problem on your hands. Estes Services plumbers are skilled and knowledgeable about every kind of plumbing leak occurring in homes. By educating yourself about the different types of leaks, you can be more aware of troublesome plumbing signs and know when to call a plumbing professional for help.
Toilet Plumbing Leaks
Plumbing leaks in toilets are the most common type of leak, and they typically go unnoticed at first. A toilet leak is usually silent and out of sight except for larger toilets which emits a gurgling or hissing sound when the toilet isn’t in use. Other types of toilet leaks are:
- Water trickling into the bowl: If you hear your toilet spontaneously refill, as if someone is flushing it when no one is around is referred to as a “Phantom Flush.” The toilet might run intermittently due to a very slow leak occurring from the tank to the bowl.
- Water trickling into the tank: A continuous hissing noise coming from your toilet indicates water is seeping from the tank via the supply line. The hissing noise is caused by the water coming through the inlet valve.
- Leaky toilet seals: There are five seals on standard toilets at risk of leaking. The largest seal between the bowl and tank will shoot water underneath the tank after every flush if a leak is present. There are smaller seals at the base of the ballcock and the mounting bolts. A leak around the smaller seals results in smaller leaks hard to detect without a professional’s expertise. The wax seal mounted on a plastic flange underneath the toilet base is the last seal where a leak can occur. A leak around the wax seal will happen under the toilet base, causing the floor underneath to rot away.
Faucet Plumbing Leaks
Plumbing leaks in your faucets, such as baths, showers and sinks, may seem like just an annoyance to you but they can cost you more money over time on your water bill. They can start out as a drip and can quickly escalate into a leaking U joint under the sink or another joint in your plumbing system. Damage from a plumbing leak below your faucets can result in expensive repairs. Sheetrock, sub-flooring, and framing can be damaged by this type of leak if the problem isn’t resolved quickly.
Water Supply Line Plumbing Leaks
A plumbing leak can occur between your home and the meter in the water supply line. This type of leak is difficult to detect and diagnose because the line is buried at least three feet below the surface. Larger leaks typically travel along the pipe and back to the meter. If the meter box has water in it and there hasn’t been any rain recently, you may have a plumbing leak in your supply line. Leaking water present where the supply line rises above the ground near the house or soil constantly damp around the same area indicate a leak in the supply line. A severe leak will result in water seeping up towards the ground surface directly above the underground pipe. Whether the leak is the responsibility of you or the water utility company, a plumbing expert needs to be consulted for proper water leak detection and repair.
Being knowledgeable about potential problems in your home’s plumbing system will increase awareness on your end and prevent major disaster from striking your home unexpectedly. Call Estes Services and request plumbing services from our experts. Our plumbers are experienced, skilled, and will know the best solution to your plumbing leak!
