Phoenix Water Quality Inspection Tips

As the weather heats up, many people are sprucing up their yards or deep cleaning their homes. When you’re already working around the house, take time to check for water leaks. When you can locate them quickly, they can be repaired before they become costly and difficult to fix.

Water leaks cost you money and often waste 10,000 gallons of water per year. Contrary to popular belief, most leaks are not very hard to find and repair.

Visual Method:

One of the easiest ways to find a leak fast is to see it or feel it. Take time to walk around your home, both the inside and outside, look for plumbing connections or fixtures that are dripping or are moist. Be sure to look at all your water connections and irrigation systems, your pool fill and notice the ground to make sure it looks dry. Inspect your water heater and water treatment systems for moisture or dripping issues. Take time to check the areas you don’t notice very often like behind the refrigerator, the washing machine connections and under all the sinks and toilets.

Listening Method:

You probably most often notice a dripping faucet or running toilet in the quiet of night when you’re trying to go to sleep. When your home is quiet, walk around inside and outside and listen closely for dripping or running water.

Water Meter Method:

Beyond listening and looking, hidden leaks are best noticed by simply reading your water meter.

To do this, turn off everything around your home using water, like your water using appliances (ice maker), faucets and irrigation system. Turn off the automatic pool fill and make sure no one flushes a toilet.

1. Go to your water meter and watch it for about one to two minutes. If nothing is using water around your home, it should not be running at all. If the meter has a dial, it should not be spinning and if it is digital, nothing should be flashing. You might be lucky and actually have a leak indicator on your meter like these shown in the photos.
   
2. If your meter is not moving or flashing, you are fine.
3. If the water meter is moving or flashing, you have a water leak somewhere or something is still using water around your home.
4. Re-check again around the home to be sure there is nothing using water. Even a very small usage of water will make your meter run.
5. Re-check your meter again. If it is still moving, look for a leak or call a plumber.

What is leaking?

If you can’t find anything using water, but the meter is still running, it will take more work to find the leak. Check your irrigation system. Be sure no valves, irrigation heads or underground pipes are leaking anywhere.

Check your toilets. Toilet flappers can wear out for many reasons with water quality as the main cause. The smallest leak can waste thousands of gallons of water a year. Check out this previous article for how to use food coloring to test for a toilet leak.

If you still can’t find anything and your water meter is still running, the problem may be behind a wall or floor. This may need a professional to come and help.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers free inspections throughout the greater Phoenix metro area. Make your online appointment today. With 26 years of experience in finding water leaks, we help you avoid the hassles of water damage.

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