Water Leak Detection San Diego, CA

Bill Howe Team

For more than 35 years, Bill Howe has been the leading expert in water leak detection and plumbing repair services. San Diego has trusted the team of professionally trained plumbers for their quick response and permanent solutions.  

Signs of Leaks

There are many different signs of plumbing leaks in the home. While some leaks are easy to spot, there are other types of leaks that require specialized leak detection services. It all depends on the plumbing that is leaking; there are different signs to look for depending on each aspect of the home’s plumbing.

Water Heater Leaks

Water heater leaks are often easy to identify by visible signs of water dripping or leaking from valves, water lines, and in worst case scenarios, directly from the bottom of the tank (in traditional tank water heaters.)

Homeowners can also look for signs of past leaks, or water pressure fluctuations which may cause corrosion or hard scale buildup on the water supply lines. (Can link back to water softening article)

Plumbing Fixture Leaks

Faucets, showerheads, tub spouts, water supply shut-offs and supply lines can all develop leaks for many reasons. Homeowners should be vigilant when using their fixtures and look for signs of small leaks. Water pooling underneath water shutoffs for sinks and toilets are a sure sign of an active leak. Homeowners can also routinely perform a leak check and look for moisture near fixtures for possible signs of past leaks or larger issues.

Toilet Leaks

Toilets can leak from the base, which usually indicates a backed up sewer line. They can also leak on the inside of the tank, from the water supply shutoff, and sometimes are not as easily noticed. Homeowners should look for signs of rust inside of the tank, listen for running toilets, and look for water pooling around the base to determine the right professional plumber to contact.

Slab Leaks

There are many signs of a slab leak in the home, including high water or utility bills. Some signs that are harder to identify include noticeable signs of water or mildew on floors or in walls, sounds of running water when no water is in use, warm spots on tile or hardwood floors, and/or wet spots in carpeted flooring.

Exterior Leaks

Exterior plumbing leaks in hose faucets and landscaping can sometimes be hard to spot. Homeowners can look for signs of water damage around the foundation of the home and look for pooling water in yards with sprinkler systems. Utility costs may also rise with leaks in the exterior plumbing and landscaping applications.

High Utility Bills

A spike in water bills is a big sign of an exterior leak and slab leaks, but can also indicate smaller leaks within the home. Toilet leaks can be the cause of excessive water waste and can cause high water bills over time. Dripping showerheads, faucets, and water supply shut-offs and supply lines can also cause changes to utility bills. Homeowners can regularly monitor their water utility bills and perform annual water audits.

Leak Detection

Leak detection can be tricky, even with active signs of a leak in any plumbing fixtures or sure signs of a slab leak.

Detecting a leak in plumbing fixtures that are actively dripping are pretty simple to diagnose. However, signs of water in water shutoffs, or form water lines or valves in a water heater may indicate a leaking at the fixture or within the water pipes in the wall.

Visual leak detection is the first step for most plumbing leaks. Experienced plumbers can then check the water meter and use leak detection equipment for leaks such as slab leaks. SLab leak detection services utilize the latest detection technology to precisely locate the water leak and provide the best options for repair.

For leaks that may be in water pipes in the wall, there is no technology to accurately pinpoint the exact leak location. However, thermal imaging can identify moisture behind walls allowing plumbers to know where to open the wall to make the proper repair.

Water Damage Restoration

For minor and major leaks, one step of the process may be to contract water damage restoration services. SLow or small leaks that are caught quickly can be expertly repaired by a licensed plumber. In worst case scenarios, homeowners may wake up to a burst shutoff valve or a water heater that has caused major water damage or flooding. A water damage team will be able to assess the level of water damage and provide a dryout and water extraction plan to mitigate damage.

Homeowners choosing Bill Howe Plumbing can also turn to Bill Howe Restoration & Flood Services. Our team is available to work directly with insurance adjusters to help mitigate water damage and return your home back to its original condition.

Common Leak Causes

Common causes of minor leaks include high-pressure fluctuations in the water. Homeowners can eliminate high water pressure in the home by installing a pressure reducing valve to regulate the city water pressure.

Hard water, such as we have in San Diego can also be a common culprit in leaking plumbing fixtures. The heavy minerals, calcium, and magnesium, in San Diego water create hard scale buildup on the inside of plumbing pipes and fixtures and wear down internal seals.

Although it is impossible to prevent all plumbing leaks, homeowners can address hard water with a whole home water softening system, high water pressure with a pressure reducing valve. Homeowners with traditional water heaters should consider installing a thermal expansion tank to handle excess pressure going onto the homes water supply and a pressure regulating valve to help reduce city water pressure that could be too high.

There are also advanced water leak monitoring devices that can alert homeowners when water bills begin to spike or if moisture is detected in the home. This allows homeowners to act quickly in identifying issues and mitigate major damage.

Lastly, homeowners can be vigilant in looking for and finding leaks on all plumbing fixtures every month.  A few minutes each month to look for signs of moisture, corrosion, or damp or warm spots can help homeowners save money.

If you suspect a plumbing leak and would like to leak detection services, call 1-800 BILL HOWE (245-5469) today.

Water leak detection is a specialized service that our technicians are trained to save customers time, money, and unnecessary damage to their property. We use only the best technology and ensure that all of our water leak detection specialists in San Diego undergo the proper training before sending them to your home.

If you suspect you have a leak, try checking off our DIY Water Audit list and if you believe it is time to call the professionals, look no further than Bill Howe Plumbing in San Diego. We were recently voted the Best Plumber by our community because we know how!

Call 1-800 Bill Howe (245-5469) 24 hours a day, seven days a week!