Why Do I Hear Running Water But Nothing Is On?
Are you hearing running water in your home without an obvious source can be scary. For one, you’re wasting a lot of water. You’ll also be facing an enormous water bill. Even worse, there may be significant damage behind your walls or underneath your floors. Here are some steps you can take if you hear running water but can’t find the source.
Try to Narrow Down the Location
A constant drip or sound of running water can be nerve-wracking, to say the least. If you’re trying to locate the source, first look under all your sinks, around your toilets, and near your appliances. Appliances include your dishwasher, washer, and even your fridge. If you still haven’t located the leak, check your water heater. In addition, inspect your crawl space. Still turning up empty? Put your ear to the wall. If the leak is coming from inside your walls, it could be a pipe leak from behind your drywall.
Take a Look at Your Water Meter
Locate your water meter and check to see if it’s running. Detecting and fixing a water leak quickly can save you from steep water bills. To check your water meter, do the following:
- Find your water meter: It’s usually in your yard or a utility closet.
- Turn off all sources of water: Turn off all your faucets and any appliances that use water.
- Watch your water meter: If the red hand (or black triangle) moves, you have a leak somewhere.
Schedule an Inspection With a Plumber
If you’re certain you have a leak but still can’t identify the source, your best bet is to schedule inspection services with a plumbing company, like Pensacola Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. Professional plumbers have specific tools that they use to identify hidden leaks. These tools include:
Thermal Imaging Cameras
Thermal imaging cameras use infrared technology to identify temperature differences and heat energy. For instance, wet areas tend to be slightly cooler than dry areas. The camera can detect this difference. These unusual thermal differences or patterns make it possible to pinpoint a leak.
Acoustic Listening Tools
When water leaks from a pipe or any other source, it makes a distinct sound. Using specialized sensors and microphones, plumbers can pinpoint the exact location of the leak. Once the leak is located, plumbers can identify the type of leak based on its sound, such as a hissing, gurgling, or spraying sound. The advantages of acoustic listening devices are that they’re noninvasive and versatile—they can be used on metal, plastic, and even concrete.
Moisture Meters
There are two types of moisture meters: pin-type and pinless meters. Pin-type meters have two probes inserted into the material to be tested. If moisture is detected, the electric current between the probes will change.
Pinless meters don’t need physical contact with the material in question. They emit electromagnetic frequencies that penetrate the surface of the material. If the frequency changes, moisture is present.
Keep in mind that moisture meters can also be affected by condensation and humidity. In addition, pin-type meters may damage materials like drywall, and pinless meters require a flat surface.
Video Pipe Inspection Cameras
Video pipe inspection cameras use a miniature camera attached to a flexible cable to inspect the inner walls of pipes. Besides detecting hidden leaks, these cameras can also reveal rust, corrosion, clogs, damage, and tree root invasion. One of the main advantages of using video pipe inspection cameras is that they’re non-invasive while providing an accurate diagnosis.
Endoscopic Cameras
Another helpful tool to detect hidden leaks is an endoscopic camera. These tiny cameras can fit into holes as small as 8mm and detect small leaks in joints and mold and mildew growth.
Soil Probes
If the leak seems to be underground or beneath your foundation, a soil probe is an excellent tool. When water leaks from an underground pipe, it saturates the surrounding soil, and a soil probe can detect this excess moisture. Soil probes are often combined with other tools, such as cameras or acoustic listening devices.
Tracer Gas Detection
Tracer gas detection uses a non-toxic gas mixture like hydrogen and nitrogen to identify hidden pipe leaks. To detect a leak using this method, plumbers seal and pressurize a pipe system with the gas mixture, which escapes through any leak points. A “sniffer” or a gas detector then identifies where the gas is emerging. Tracer gas detection is highly accurate and can detect leaks behind walls and beneath concrete.
Our Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Team in Pensacola
If you hear dripping or running water in your home, it’s important to fix the problem immediately. Leaks will only get worse. Plus, they can cause an incredible amount of damage to your property. Besides causing mold growth, a leak could permanently damage your foundation and walls.
There are many reasons your home may have a leak, such as corroded pipes, clogs, broken seals, cracks, and damaged joints. But plumbers can’t fix the problem without first identifying what the issue is and where the leak is. That’s why an inspection is crucial.
Scheduling an inspection means allowing professional plumbers to identify the problem and fix it quickly. And the faster they can stop the problem, the less damage you’ll face.
When you call Pensacola Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, you’ll get a plumbing team that arrives promptly! If there’s any delay, it’s YOU we pay. You’ll also get repairs on the spot and transparent pricing. Hearing running water or a drip you can’t locate? Contact our plumbing team to schedule leak detection services in Pensacola.
