Toilets are the most common leak culprit,
and are hard to spot without testing, which is why we have a detailed guide to detecting and repairing common toilet leaks. While you’re in the bathroom, check out your tub or shower, sink, and the floors around them. Any curled flooring, loose tiles or stains should immediately alert you to a problem.
If you have shower doors, stand inside, close the doors, and splash water all around the door and frame. If you find any water outside, you’ll need to replace any worn floor sweeps and gaskets on the door, and possibly re-caulk the frame. Though seemingly innocuous, these kinds of leaks can seep water into the subfloor, potentially rotting the wood and developing into a major (and costly) repair.
The tub/shower drain is also a source of leaks, since the connection to the bottom of the tub/shower can separate slightly, allowing water to leak outside the drain body and into flooring. Those with plastic or fiberglass tubs or shower pans are especially at risk for this kind of leak, as those materials will flex. A simple check for this leak uses a test plug. Simply fill the tub or shower with enough water to create a puddle, insert the plug, and wait a few minutes. Should that puddle shrink, it may be time to replace a gasket, re-caulk, or install a whole new drain.
Faucets are notorious leakers. Luckily, these leaks are usually obvious, and a leaking faucet often needs only a replacement part or new o-ring to be fixed, and such repairs are often easy enough to do on your own. Our guide to fixing leaky faucets will help you locate the source of the problem, and gives general instructions for faucet repair.
As for your sinks, they can have problems with leaking around the rim, which can damage countertops and cabinets. Check for puddles or stains around the sink and inside the cabinet. Any loose countertop material or deteriorated caulk around the sink are telltale signs of these kinds of leaks, as is a loose faucet base. To make sure your sink is tightly sealed, use a sponge to squeeze out a noticeable amount of water around the sink’s rim and the base of the faucet. Check inside the cabinet and underneath the sink for any seepage after a few minutes. If you do discover any leaks, they can usually be taken care of with a re-caulking, or tightening of the sink’s undermount clips (if applicable).
To check for leaks in your sink’s plumbing, dab a dry tissue or paper towel all around the hot and cold water supply line stops and hoses. After that, fill the sink up with some water and then remove the stopper; grab another dry tissue and wipe down the length of the waste piping as it drains. Leaks of this nature will usually require replacement of stops, fittings, or supply lines.
Like faucets, water heaters generally don’t have concealed leaks. If you see water on the ground around your heater, check the temperature and pressure relief valve: if it’s constantly leaking, you need to check the temperature and pressure. If these are within the operating limits of the heater, you’ll need to replace the valve. If the valve doesn’t appear to be the offender, check the fittings and stops connected to the heater, and replace as necessary. Sometimes condensation from the heater will create wet spots or puddles. While this isn’t technically a “leak”, condensation can cause problems. Check that all heater venting is clear. You may end up needing to adjust settings on the unit, or even consult with a plumber to resolve the issue.
If you need assistance or quite frankly do not have the time, contact us! We are here to help!