With winter finally over, we can now look forward to months of warm weather and beautiful vegetation. Spring is the time when most people start getting their hoses out and turn their outdoor plumbing back on to water lawns and gardens. The concern is that outdoor plumbing fixtures like spigots or hose bibs may have gotten damaged over the winter, especially if you didn’t take the necessary steps to winterize them the previous year. By taking a few simple steps to test these fixtures and inspect them for any signs of damage, you can avoid issues like leaks, water damage and your water bills being unnecessarily high.
The Importance of Testing Outdoor Plumbing in the Spring
It’s always recommended to shut off the water to all outdoor plumbing fixtures from inside the house before winter. Even in warmer places like San Antonio, there are still times during the winter when it gets cold enough that outdoor spigots and faucets are at risk of freezing. Shutting off the water to these fixtures from inside and then draining them helps prevent the pipes inside the house that connect to the fixtures from freezing and potentially cracking or bursting. However, there’s still a chance of the part of the fixture that’s outside the house freezing and cracking, especially if you didn’t fully drain the water out of it. When you turn the water back on in the spring, the fixture will immediately start leaking.
If there’s a large crack in a spigot or faucet, you’ll usually see a significant amount of water leaking outside of the house and potentially inside as well. A hairline crack can cause a hidden leak where water slowly seeps out behind the siding or underneath the concrete foundation. This latter issue is known as a slab leak, and it’s especially common in Texas since very few homes have a basement or a crawlspace foundation.
Underground slab leaks are especially problematic, as even a small one can cause significant damage to the foundation and other parts of the home. The water can eventually undercut the foundation, leading to the concrete cracking. It can also cause the foundation to shift and settle, resulting in drywall cracking or parts of floors sinking or upheaving. Another issue you can encounter is the water seeping up through the concrete and damaging the flooring, baseboards and drywall. All of these concerns are why it’s important to inspect all of your outdoor plumbing and check for any signs of “silent” leaks, then call a local plumber for a closer look if you suspect anything.
How to Check for Leaks in Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures
Before you turn the water back on to your outdoor plumbing fixtures, you should inspect them for any visible cracks. If you see any cracking, you’ll need to have a plumber replace the fixture before you can safely use it.
When turning the water on, you should only partly open the shut-off valve. That way, only a small amount of water will leak out if the fixture is damaged. If you don’t see any leaks inside or outside the house, you can then open the valve all the way.
The next step is to go outside and check how much water pressure you have at each spigot or faucet. The easiest method is to cover the opening on the spout with your thumb or the palm of your hand and then use your other hand to fully open the fixture. There should be enough pressure that you can’t fully seal off the spout, resulting in water spraying out sideways. If you can seal off the fixture or water only dribbles out around your hand, it’s usually a sign that there’s a leak somewhere in the pipe that supplies the fixture.
Even if all of your outdoor fixtures passed this test, it’s a good idea to check your water meter just to be fully certain that there aren’t any leaks. Water meters have a dial that slowly spins whenever water is running inside or outside of the house. If the dial spins when no water is running, it’s a sure sign that one or more of your pipes are leaking.
A hairline crack or a pinhole leak won’t always allow enough water to escape for the dial on the meter to spin. However, it will cause the usage reading on the meter to slowly increase over time. To check for small leaks, you just need to check the number on the meter right before a time when your house will be unoccupied for at least a few hours and then check the meter again when you get back home to see if the number is still the same. A higher number indicates a leak, meaning you should immediately call a plumbing service that specializes in leak detection.
Other Signs of Hidden Plumbing Leaks to Watch Out For
Your water meter is a useful tool for identifying plumbing leaks. However, it can still be difficult to spot small hidden leaks unless you’re constantly checking the meter. That’s why it’s important to regularly go around the house and inspect for obvious signs of a leak, such as wet spots on drywall or floors, water stains, mold growth and moldy or musty smells. A noticeably warm or cold spot on the floor or flooring that has started to warp and pull away from the subfloor is a good indication of an underground slab leak. Another obvious sign of a leak is if you can hear water running anywhere in the house when none of your plumbing fixtures or appliances are in use.
Why You Should Consider Installing an Automatic Leak Detection System
Smart home technology is continually advancing to the point where it’s becoming more and more prevalent in various parts of our daily lives. One of the more recent innovations is smart automatic leak detection systems, which monitor water usage and alert homeowners to potential plumbing leaks.
Monitoring the incoming flow of water allows the system to quickly detect and notify you if water runs constantly, which is a clear sign of a leak. Many newer systems use algorithms to learn normal usage patterns, allowing them to more accurately detect irregularities that can indicate a leak.
Not only will an automatic leak detection system notify you of any leaks, but the best systems also have the ability to shut off your water when they detect one. This ensures that you won’t come home to a flooded house should a leak suddenly occur when you’re away.
Expert Plumbing Repair and Leak Detection Services
When any problems arise with your outdoor or indoor plumbing, Rosenberg Plumbing & Air is the first place to call. We specialize in faucet repair and installation and have advanced tools that allow us to quickly identify hidden leaks in any part of your plumbing system. We’ve been serving San Antonio homeowners for more than a decade, providing quality, trustworthy plumbing solutions and excellent customer service at an honest price.
To schedule a professional inspection, contact the experts at Rosenberg Plumbing & Air.
Tags: outdoor plumbing, plumbing inspection