How Do You Know If You Have A Water Leak In Your House?
If you have standing water in your kitchen in your home – there’s a strong chance you have a water leak, but what about harder to diagnose symptoms? How can you save money and prevent damage ahead of time?
Water-damaged wood floors.
A Simple Test to Determine If You Have A Water Leak
First, turn off everything in your home that uses water – washing machine, indoor faucets, outdoor spigots, sprinklers, reverse osmosis, etc. Next, go to your water meter and write down the number. After an hour, go back and check the reading. Whatever the difference is between those readings is the size of your water leak.
Where to Search For Water Leaks
Do a “Wall-To-Wall” inspection of your home. Search for visible signs of water leaks and water damage. If you have access to the attic, check it periodically for roof leaks. Look for cracks or mold. Even under prolonged rainfall, a well-insulated attic shouldn’t have any moisture in it. Make sure you check your basement or crawl space for visible symptoms of water leaks.
Water dripping may indicate a pipe our coupling leak under your home or in your walls.
Some Visible Symptoms of Water Leaks
– Wet spots, dark spots or crumbled drywall (gypsum)
– Swelling or rotting wood
– Simple cracks here and there
– A soft spot on the floor that gives slightly
– Moisture, Mildew or mold
– Easily overlooked puddles
Water intrusion through the drywall in a ceiling leak.
Free Inspections
If you’re not sure if you have a leak, but you’re noticing water damage – call your local Central Oregon ServiceMaster for a free home inspection. We will send out an IICRC-Certified Water Damage Technician to check out your home and hard-to-reach places. They have sophisticated moisture sensor meters that can detect water under flooring and water in the walls of your home.
If you have any questions about water leaks or water damage, contact our team to learn more, and check out our water restoration page to learn more about our services.
