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Northeast Texas homes experience plumbing leaks at a higher rate than many other areas in the United States. One factor is that a majority of the area’s houses have concrete slabs and buried plumbing lines. The clay soil is prone to expansion and contraction from temperature swings. You can also experience root intrusions and soil movement due to heavy rains. Even small leaks can waste hundreds of gallons a day and run up your water bill. Let’s explore the early signs that can help you spot a hidden leak before it causes extensive damage.
Monitor Your Water Bill
The first way to protect yourself is to know how much water your household uses. You need to track not only the money spent but also the gallons consumed month to month and year to year. If a sudden spike in your usage occurs, you’ll be able to identify it and know to look for the problem. If the issue isn’t readily obvious, then it’s time to call a plumber to perform an inspection.
Opt In for High-Usage Alerts
Water utilities track their customers’ water usage and can identify when usage spikes occur. It’s not unusual for a homeowner to get a call from their company alerting them to a potential leak. In Texas, many providers allow customers to opt in for notifications through their websites. That lets you set the parameters of what is and isn’t normal usage. If your water usage is suddenly outside those norms, the system will send you an email or text message.
Schedule Annual Plumbing Inspections
A mistake many Texas homeowners make is not scheduling plumber service until there’s a problem. Plumbing experts recommend a proactive approach because it can lower your overall home maintenance costs. In Northeast Texas, early spring is an excellent time to schedule. Texas winters can be hard on your pipes, and an inspection in the spring can identify problems prior to the high usage of summer. Often, a plumber can identify deterioration well before you have a leak and a major pipe repair on your hands.
Schedule Annual Well Maintenance
In the rural areas of Northeast Texas, many residential properties have well systems rather than municipal water. With a well, there is even greater potential for leaks. The buried lines, pump, pressure tank, and well casing can all degrade over the years. Every spring, you should schedule a well inspection, including water quality testing, and perform maintenance as needed. Most well pumps need professional maintenance at least once a year.
Don’t Ignore Even Mild Water Damage
Leaks that can go unnoticed for long periods can cause extensive damage. Often, the deterioration is mild to start with and gets worse with time. The warning signs to monitor for in your home include:
- Deterioration of wall paint
- Bubbling or peeling wallpaper
- Stains on ceilings, walls, or floors
- Warped wood and sloped flooring
- Hairline cracks in wood, walls, and flooring
Monitor Your Air Quality
Leaks can lead to pest infestations and negatively impact your air quality in other ways. It can promote the growth of mildew or mold, leading to musty odors. It can also cause an overall increase in your home’s relative humidity. If your home feels muggy in summer despite air conditioning, a hidden leak could be the cause.
Regularly Check Your Landscape
Leaks in your main water line or sewer line can affect your landscape. Another common issue in Northeast Texas is slab plumbing leaks impacting the property. Walk around your home’s foundation to look for signs of ponding water. It’s also important not to ignore soggy patches or the sudden formation of holes in your yard.
Camera Inspections, Thermal Imaging, and Other Techniques
If you spot any indications of a potential leak, call a plumber right away. A camera inspection can reveal cracks and other imperfections in pipes. Thermal imaging lets a plumber find a leak through the energy it creates. Acoustic detection, on the other hand, lets a plumber find leaks through the sounds that they make.
Advanced Leak Detection and Repair in Greenville
For over 100 years, Patterson Plumbing has served Texan households and businesses from our location in Greenville, TX. We’re a fully licensed and insured company that provides a full range of residential and commercial plumbing services. We have plumbers on call around the clock for emergency leak detection and repair. Our team performs camera inspections, thermal imaging, acoustic detection, and both traditional and trenchless pipe repairs and replacement. Call today, or go to our website to schedule an appointment.
