Ask F.H. Furr: What to Do if You Suspect Your Plumbing Has Developed a Leak…and how do I go about detecting it? Asked SAM G. of Bethesda, MD.

Detecting leaks can be a difficult proposition for homeowners without the technology and experience available to professional plumbers. Some leaks are easy to spot—dripping plumbing fixtures and puddles of water are more evident, but there are leaks that take place under your floor, in the piping outside your home, or even within your walls that can be hard to detect until they’ve already done damage. If you suspect a leak, follow these steps.

• Contact your plumber immediately. Time is of the essence in terms of keeping your costs down when you have a leak that is within your walls or under your floor. A dripping faucet, running toilet, or small puddle in the laundry room might not be as dramatic, but the sooner your plumber can fix the problem, the sooner you can begin using your appliances again.

• Begin damage control. If necessary, use towels and other measures to contain spilled water. This can lower your costs for floor or carpet cleaning caused by spreading water. Wrapping and securing a towel around a leaking pipe can prevent damage to your walls, but any time you encounter a high-pressure leak, leave it alone to avoid injury and let your plumber handle the job.

• If the leak is an emergency, shut off the water to your home. Before disaster strikes, it’s always a good idea to ask your plumbing professional to show you where the main shutoff is for water in your home, as well as individual valves that you can use to stop smaller leaks in their tracks.

• Identify the cause of the problem and act accordingly. If the leak was caused by piping or plumbing in poor condition, have your plumber inspect the rest of your home for potential accidents waiting to happen. This can keep you ahead of costly repairs with preventative maintenance instead.
  

Contact F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning at 703-690-0449 if you think you have a leak in your Fairfax home’s plumbing. We can isolate, repair, and prevent leaks in the future with the best equipment and experience.

Thanks, Sam, for that great question! Next time, we will be talking about Whole Home Energy And Duct Performance Audits. And if you have a question, feel free to submit it below, and if your question is picked, WIN a FREE Giftcard to Outback!

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