A leak anywhere in your
home is bad news, but a leaking toilet might be the worst leak of them all. A
broken toilet can hinder your family’s daily routine and may even cause
flooding in your home. Keep reading to learn a few of the signs of a leaking
toilet in Mesa, AZ:
- Sounds of running water: The first thing you may notice with a broken toilet is the
constant sound of running water. The good news is that this could just be a
problem with a valve in the tank—a simple fix that you could perform yourself. However,
it may also be the result of a leak, which will necessitate professional help.
- Stains on the floor: Pipe leaks in Mesa, AZ that go unaddressed for long periods of
time leave yellow, brown or gray stains on the floor. If this is the case, your
bathroom floor likely has some severe water damage that’ll need to be addressed
by a professional contractor.
- Bad odors: Needless to say, the smell of sewage coming from your toilet is
rather unpleasant. This awful smell is typically a sign that there’s a problem
with a pipe behind the toilet that’s allowing odors from the sewer or septic
tank to rise up into your home. Call a plumber as soon as possible to check out
that smell, as some of that methane gas can be harmful.
- Low the water level: A leaking toilet won’t be able to hold water in the tank for very
long. If you suspect a leak, check to see if the water level is lower than
normal. If so, you’ll want to call a plumber right away to see what’s the
matter.
- Higher water bill: A constantly running toilet can waste up to one gallon of water
per hour. If you don’t notice any of the signs above, you certainly will notice
an abnormally-high water bill! Be sure to get that leak fixed soon to avoid
paying an arm and a leg on your monthly bills.
What are your options?
You can’t just let pipe
leaks in Mesa, AZ go unaddressed. Here’s what you can do as a homeowner to deal with the
situation:
- Call a plumber: Even if you fancy yourself a handyman, it’s a good idea to let a
professional plumber handle any leaking toilet situations. A pro will quickly
be able to identify the source of the leak and fix it up so that the toilet is
back in working order.
- Buy a new toilet: If your leaking toilet is on the older side, it’s not a bad idea
to consider getting a new one. New toilets are more water efficient, which can
help you save a ton of money on your monthly utility bills. If you’re going
this route, be sure to choose PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air for
installation. We offer fast and affordable installation for all types of
toilets.
If you’re dealing with a
leaking
toilet in Mesa, AZ, look no further than
PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air to address the issue. Big or small, our
team is well-equipped to handle any leak that’s affecting your home or business.
On top of that, we’re available 24/7 to handle emergency situations!
Flooding in your basement, a leaking toilet or constant dripping from the pipes under your sink are all obvious signs that you have a water leak. But what about when the signs aren’t so obvious? Many water leaks are actually hidden from plain sight, but they’re just as damaging.
As your local experts in leak detection in Mesa, AZ, we know a thing or two about spotting these hidden plumbing problems. But how can you, a homeowner, spot early signs of a hidden leak? Here are a few tips that you can use.
Compare your bills
One of the easiest ways to identify a hidden water leak is by monitoring your water bills. Your water bill should be relatively consistent, unless there have been major changes in your water use, such as refilling a pool. If you compare several water bills over a three- to six-month period and notice a steady increase in cost, chances are, you are paying for a water leak that you didn’t even know you had.
Get acquainted with your water meter
If you’ve never checked out your water meter before, now is the perfect time to start. Your water meter measures the water usage for your home. You can typically find it under a small metal or plastic cap fitted outside near your outside stop tap. To check your water meter, you will first need to turn off any running water in your home, such as the dishwasher and washing machine. Now, watch your meter. If the meter changes rapidly, it means you have a serious leak. Check it again after a couple hours and, if it has moved, that means you have a slow/minor leak. No change means no leaks.
Pay attention to your water pressure
If you are noticing that your water pressure is getting low, whether you are taking a shower or washing dishes, this could be a sign of a hidden leak. If you are noticing low pressure from all your faucets at the same time, this is typically a sign of a serious leak.
Use your senses
Hidden leaks may not result in visible pools of standing water, but there are other visible ways they can be detected. If you are noticing a foul damp or moldy smell, this could be a sign of a leak. Other signs might be recurring wet or damp spots on the walls, ceilings or floor. It’s also a good idea to regularly check places where you might not normally go, such as inspecting the pipes under your sink. By just paying attention to your surroundings on a regular basis, you can typically spot signs of a hidden leak pretty easily.
If you are experiencing any of these telltale signs of a hidden leak, then it’s time to call in the professionals! At PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air, we specialize in leaky pipe repairs in Mesa, AZ. If you need help repairing or finding a hidden leak in your home, just give us a call today to schedule a visit!
Those who live in Arizona are well familiar with our hot summers. They know the effects the sweltering temperatures can have on their plumbing and air conditioner. But the colder winter weather—as mild as it might be here—can also take its toll. The chilly overnight desert temperatures can cause slab leaks.
A slab leak is a leak that has developed in a copper water line running below the concrete foundation of your home, or a leak in the concrete itself. They can go undetected for months because the leak lurks below the surface. This can lead to huge problems, including mold damage and termite infestation. Eventually, the slab leak can even cause the homes foundation to collapse. That’s why it’s so important to spot a slab leak before it causes any lasting damage. Watch out for these signs that the cold may have triggered a slab leak:
- Damp flooring: Unexplained wet spots are never a good sign. Slab leaks will allow water to leak underneath, causing the concrete to become completely saturated with water. The water will eventually be absorbed by the flooring or carpets and may even warp wood floors. Call a plumbing company in Mesa, AZ as soon as you notice any wet spots.
- Mold: Water that has seeped into the floor will eventually be absorbed by the drywall. This will create an environment prime for mold growth. The mold could cause lasting damage to the drywall, leaving you with no choice but to pay for both mold removal and wall replacement.
- High water bills: A hidden slab leak could be causing huge spikes in your water bill. Call a plumbing company in Mesa, AZ to find the cause before it gets worse.
- Musty smells: The damp environment and undetected mold growth can create an unpleasant musty odor. The smell will only get worse the longer the leak persists. A slab leak along the sewer line will smell even worse.
- Cracks in the baseboard: Persistent dampness can compromise the integrity of the baseboard or walls and eventually cause them to crack.
- Soaked landscape: Does the backyard lawn suddenly seem mushy with mud and water? A slab leak can flood the backyard with pools of water that never seem to dry. This can ruin the landscape by flooding the dirt and killing the grass.
- Damaged foundation: A slab leak can cause the floor to rise. Over time, the foundation will start to shift and crack as a result. You’ll be left with no choice but to undergo major repairs to the entire foundation if the leak escalates to this point.
Call a professional for leak repair in Mesa, AZ
Reach out to the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air if you suspect there’s a slab leak in your home. One of our expert technicians will fix the leak and then address any damage it may have caused. The extent of the repair may vary drastically based on the age of the plumbing, the location of the leak and the extent of the damage. Contact us today to schedule an inspection!
Most people call a plumber in Mesa, AZ when they’ve got a problem on their hands. A sink is clogged or the toilet is backing up and there’s no time to waste in finding a solution! This is where those big plumbing bills come from and why so many people try to avoid calling a professional at all costs.
The irony is, most people could avoid that big plumbing bill by settling for a much smaller one. Paying for routine leak detection in Mesa, AZ or having your sewer line scoped annually will cost you… but not nearly as much as an emergency. Moving up your call to a plumber means avoiding a future bill with extra decimal places.
Preventative maintenance
The first way you can save yourself money is through preventative plumbing maintenance. Giving a plumber a call to have your plumbing inspected and your amenities tested could result in untold savings:
- A sewer line inspection may only run you a hundred dollars or so, but it can save you thousands if you find and resolve an issue in its early stages.
- Fixing flow issues with a toilet can shave tens of dollars off your monthly water bill, resulting in hundreds saved annually.
- Correcting leaks under sinks or in plumbing closets will save you threefold: on your utility bill, in prevented water damage and in preventing a future plumbing failure.
- Unclogging and cleaning drains will prevent costly backups that may need augering or hydro-jetting in the future.
Each preventative maintenance item takes away from a future plumbing bill you’ll have to pay. Staying up on plumbing maintenance may even mean erasing an emergency plumbing bill later on!
Longer-lasting solutions
One of the under-appreciated benefits of proactive plumbing is the longevity it affords your pipes and fixtures. Nothing is costlier than having sections of plumbing replaced or having to pay a professional for completely new fixture installations. Proper maintenance keeps your hardware in good shape.
Plumbing that’s generally maintained isn’t as prone to failure, either. You’ll have peace of mind against the likes of leaks and corrosion, as well as simple things like flow and water pressure. Your plumbing will be able to handle your daily demands better, for longer.
It’s all about the money
It’s hard for a homeowner to hand over $200 to a plumber when there’s no immediate emergency. It’s even harder when your routine plumbing inspection turns up an all-clear report, with no issues.
Don’t look at inspections and proactive maintenance as a sunk cost—look at it as the cost of peace of mind. Without someone looking out for your plumbing’s integrity and functionality, who knows what types of costs are lurking in the future? Paying upfront for regular maintenance means staying ahead of any unknown costs.
Just like your HVAC system needs seasonal checkups and your car needs an oil change every 5,000 miles, your plumbing needs maintenance too. Taking it to heart and making the investment is something “future you” will pat your current self on the back for, instead of cursing them as they write a check to the emergency plumber in Mesa, AZ.
Slab leaks occur when there is water leaking under the concrete slab on which your house rests. They pose potentially serious risks to your home in and of themselves and also spur additional problems.
Depending on the severity of the leak, it may be difficult to determine whether you have a slab leak or not. Certainly, identifying a leak underneath your concrete floor will never be as straightforward as noticing that a showerhead or under-sink pipe is leaking. But a slab leak often needs even more immediate attention that more easily identified leaks.
So, how can you tell if you have a slab leak? There are a number of warning signs that might indicate a problem.
- Cracks or bubbles in your floor may indicate water underneath, potentially seeping through the concrete or indicating damage already done to the slab itself.
- Unexplained dampness in an area of the carpet is a frequent indicator of a slab leak.
- Warm spots or cold spots on the floor can be caused by warm or cool water collecting from a slab leak.
- Mold or mildew growth, particularly on/under flooring or at the bottom of walls usually mean unwanted water has found its way on your floor and it may have come from below.
- If your water bill unexpectedly indicates dramatically increased consumption, much of that water might not be going into your house, but under it instead.
- Continual faint sound of running water, when all of your plumbing fixtures are turned off, could mean you have a hidden leak in the foundation slab or behind a wall.
If you suspect that you are experiencing a slab leak, you should shut off your water immediately and call PlumbSmart. We offer fast dispatch, FREE slab leak detection (what have you got to lose?), and a $250 discount off slab leak repairs.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
