Anyone who owns or operates a car knows the purpose of leak detection Los Angeles residents often take for granted. If leaks go unnoticed or unresolved and interfere with the way your car drives, you could be at risk for causing a devastating injury or accident. In the same way, it is important to check for signs of a plumbing leak in your home. Early intervention and detection means that you will often catch problems before they cause issues such as a sagging or cracked flooring, damp or muddy patches in your yard, a musty smell that won’t go away, or unexpectedly high water bills. If you’re lucky, you may also prevent bubbles in your paint or wallpaper and stop mold or mildew from forming in your home.

The most common areas that become damaged and lead homeowners to call on plumbers Los Angeles residents recommend include basements, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and crawl spaces. It is important to detect leaks early to reduce the risk of mold. Inhalation of mold can irritate allergies and cause respiratory complications, dizziness and headaches. Some owners find that the fungus can completely destroy drywall, often requiring renovations and making their homes uninhabitable for a period of time. If you are unable to detect a leak, you risk bacteria spreading throughout your home and water supply through damaged pipes; water can also cause floods, damaging your possessions and your home.

In order to detect leaks, many homeowners begin by turning off their main water supply to the home and walk from room to room, listening for any drips or sounds of running water. If you suspect that you have a leak, there are a few methods to pinpoint the location including radar, a video camera, gas or a geophone. Different tools and equipment will be used for different areas of your home: A camera can be inserted into pipes to visually identify leaks while some opt to send ground-penetrating radar waves to find the problem.

Here are some guidelines to follow to help you remember when it is necessary to check your plumbing:

– Inspect the ground outside your home and your basement following every heavy rainfall.
– Turn off your water supply valve to your home every six months and listen for running water.
– Check your sump pump after every rainfall or every six months.
– Check toilets, shower heads, faucets and garbage disposals every three months as these are often the most-used fixtures in homes.

No matter whether you are in a car or your home, detecting leaks early can save you from costly repairs and renovations should your pipes break. Knowing the signs of a leak and the best way to locate the problem will ensure that you catch leaks before they cause too much damage to your vehicle or home. Even if you are unsure about the probability of a leak, it is always better to be safe than sorry.