It can be pretty difficult to detect an underground water leak, and when they are left untreated they can cause a variety of damages that can be very extensive. And it can result in expensive repairs. You may need a broken arrow plumber to help you repair an underground water leak.
If you notice that your water bill has increased in price all of sudden and you can’t find any visible leaks within your pipes, you may be dealing with an underground water leak. This means that one of your underground pipes could possibly be broken and leaking water.
This blog will help you determine if you have an underground water leak. Keep reading to learn more.
How to Tell If You Have an Underground Water Leak
Sometimes underground water leaks can go unnoticed for a long time, months in fact. Especially if the leak is weak or slow. However, there can be a lot of different signs and symptoms that can point to you having an underground water leak and can help you determine if that is what you are dealing with.
For example, if you notice that water is pooling in your yard that is a clear indicator that you have an underground water leak. Some other signs and symptoms include the following:
1. Your Water Bill Is High
If you notice your water bill has spiked and you are unable to find any visible leaks within your pipes inside of your house chances are that you have an underground water leak. This happen to be, of course, given that there hasn’t been a recent change in your water consumption, but you are paying more than you normally do.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended that you should track your water usage during the winter months. If you notice that your household has consumed over 12,000 gallons of water within just one month, then you should have your pipes inspected for leaks.
2. You Have Lower Water Pressure
Another easy way to tell that you have an underground water leak is having low water pressure. If you happen to notice your water supply has become sparse because of low pressure and your municipality hasn’t contacted you about it, your pipes could possibly be clogged, eroded, or ruptured.
If the plumbing inside of your house is in good condition then you will be able to tell that it is from an underground water leak. And when there is construction going on nearby your house it’s even more likely that the leak is underground.
3. Water Pooling In Your Yard
When it’s not raining and you notice water pooling in your yard, then you can expect there to be an underground leak. For instance, suppose your yard’s actual water line starts leaking. All of the water that is leaking out will eventually flow to the surace and form puddles when the soil stops absorbing it.
Any significant amount of water seeping out of the ground is an indicator that there is a lot of water leaking out of the underground water line. You will definitely need to have it repaired fast before the issue becomes worse and causes your water bill to increase or possibly cause property damage.
4. Water Meter Descrepancies
You can tell if you have an underground water leak by evaluating your water meter readings. You will first need to locate your meter which is usually along your home’s curb, it should be secured within a box that has a lid. And then you need to turn off the main water shut off valve and then check the meter to see if it’s still running.
Your meter might have a leak indicator that will spin even when the water is shut off, if that is still on when you turn of the main water shut off valve then your pipes are likely leaking. However, if you meter doesn’t have an indicator, you can eaisly calculate meter readings manually and evaluate the discrepancies to identify underground water leaks.
5. Excess Moisture In Your Soil
If it hasn’t been raining recently and the soil around your home is unstable because of increased water content, this could be a good indicator tht you have an underground water leak. Typically, the soil around the leaking point will be saturated with a lot of water, and will have greener grass growing in the soil.
If you think you have an underground water leak in the spot where the soil is moist, you can simply dig up the dirt around that particular spot and check to see if the hole becomes full of water soon after digging it up. If this happens and there happen to be underground pipes in that area, it’s likely you have a leaking underground pipe.
6. Foundation On Your Home Is Cracking
Another way to be able to tell that you have an underground water leak, is your house’s foundation is cracking. One problem with excess water underground is that it can easily and very quickly destabilize soil, which can end up compromising a building’s integrity.
For example, if there happens to be an underground water leak underneath of your concrete slab, the leaking water will end up seeping into the foundation and it will cause cracking to oocur. If you don’t have the leak repaired for a long period of time, it will eventually weaken the whole structure entirely of your house. Which will then cause the walls to crack too.
You should check your foundation on a regular basis for moisture indicators.
7. Damp Walls and Flooring
One more potential sign of having an underground water leak is having damp flooring and walls. Eventually, you wil end up smelling mildew when the leak isn’t repaired fast enough and remains active for a long period of time. You walls can also become damp because of underground water leaks.
If you don’t repair an undergroud water leak soon enoug, over time the excess moisture can end up damaging your walls and other items in your home. And your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover the cost of water damage or pipe repairs.
