4 Ways to Detect a Leak Before It Becomes Catastrophic

Updated: 11/11/20; 11/11/22

Whether it’s a broken irrigation sprinkler head or a running toilet, homeowners are subject to encountering costly leaks. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says 10% of homes have wasteful leaks (90 gallons or more per day), and fixing them could reduce water costs by the same amount or more.

In addition to wasting precious water, leaks also can lead to substantial home damage. There’s an interesting thing happening with insurance claims … among all of the risks that could lead to filing an insurance claim – fire, theft, water damage – everything is decreasing in likelihood. Everything except water leaks. Why?

For one, people are putting washing machines on the second floor for convenience, instead of in the basement or the garage. Plastic piping also is being used more. While plastic is faster and more cost efficient to install, it’s not as durable to weathering and rodents as copper pipes.

4 Tips to Help Detect a Leak Before it Becomes Catastrophic

Most people assume saving money on a water bill means taking shorter showers. But homeowners also can fix invisible leaks and use appliances efficiently (such as a using a dishwasher instead of hand washing or using the right cycle and right amount detergent during laundry). Here are four tips and ways to detect a leak.

1. When no water is running, look at the water meter before and after a two-hour period. If the meter changes, that’s indicative of a leak.
2. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet. If it starts showing up in the bowl after 10 minutes, it means the flapper in the toilet is worn out (and it could lead to bigger issues later).
3. Get your water heater tank maintained annually. The typical water heater lasts about 10 years, and if it fails, you could come home to 50 gallons of water on your floor.
4. Anywhere you see mold, it means there is water building up somewhere. While it may not be a pipe leak, it’s a sign to look into the source of the mold.

One of the most efficient ways to get ahead of leaks is by monitoring your utility room with a water leak detector. This can catch any small leak before severity strikes. Resideo offers a professionally installed automatic water shutoff valve automatic water shutoff valve L5 that pairs with Resideo’s self installed water leak detector. Improved awareness is the first step in making better decisions about overall water consumption. Learn more at Resideo.com.