When we’re at home, we do everything in our power to maintain our living space. From conserving electricity to mowing our lawns, regular house maintenance is crucial for a welcoming environment and a safe home.
However, one of the most problematic areas of home maintenance can be underneath your feet. Though plumbing may cause problems in your home, having a faulty or damaged septic tank can also cause water damage and plumbing leaks. Unfortunately, we sometimes wait until it’s too late to fix one of the most common problems in our home. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list for you to help spot septic leaks before they get worse.
Reading Your Water Meter
One of the tell tale signs of a plumbing leak is your water bill. If your bill statements become higher than average, it could mean there’s a leak in your plumbing system or your septic tank may be backed up. If you have a water valve in your home controlling your water supply, turn it off and check the water meters. If the dial is spinning rapidly or there’s movement even while it’s off, you may have a problem with your plumbing.
Loose Flooring & Appliances
Another sign you may have a leak in your plumbing can actually come from your appliances and floors. When water is seeping from below your floors, it can soften up caulk, tile and even some appliances. If your bathroom becomes slippery when there’s no water, or you visibly see your bathroom tiles shift and move out of position, the likely culprit is a leak but it can also come from a backed up septic tank system. Other noticeable signs can be shaky or “loose” faucets and your toilet rocking back and forth when using it or gently pushing it.
Finding Water Stains & Persistent Mold
Stains around corners of your home, or even the ceiling, can definitely be a cause of a leak, especially if they are located around the bathroom or kitchen. This can be caused by the toilet seeping water to the waste pipe below it, a sink rim where water goes below the faucet, leaking underneath cabinets, and leaks between tiles of showers and tubs. Though this is generally a pluming issue, your septic tank may also be at the root of the problem. In addition to water stains, constantly finding mold in damp areas, even after treatment, could also mean there’s a leak happening around that area.
Smelling Distinct Odors
Not every leak in your home is visible. Sometimes we have to rely on our other senses to detect a problem. A common way to find hidden leaks is to find dank, heavy odors around your home. This generally indicates drain leaks that typically occur in bathrooms and sinks and may caused by problems in your septic tank. Though not visible, these types of leaks can wreck havoc on your plumbing system over time, and can become costly to fix if not treated properly.
Use this list as a starting point to detect and prevent any problems you may have with your plumbing and septic tank. Regular maintenance and thinking ahead can save you time, effort, and costly repairs.
If problems still persist, call one of our representatives to learn more about our septic warranties and solutions for your plumbing leaks.