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Corroded leaky copper water pipes (C) Daniel FriedmanDetect & Find Plumbing Leaks
Plumbing Leak Detection Methods

Methods for detecting and finding the source of leaks in water supply or drain piping:

This article series describes the different types of plumbing leaks that can occur in building supply piping or drain piping.

When where, why, and how to find water supply and drain leaks.

Watch out: a water supply leak, left un-attended, can cause catastrophic damage to a building, wetting floors, walls, ceilings, and even small chronic leaks can cause expensive mold contamination in building ceilings, walls, floors.

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Water Supply & Drain Pipe Leak Detection

Dripping faucet (C) Daniel FriedmanHere we combine general guidance on finding plumbing leaks in buildings, listing methods for detecting leaks in the building water supply system (pipes, valves, fixtures) and then for detecting leaks in the building drain-waste-vent system.

We describe approaches to finding leaks in water supply piping, followed by a similar list of techniques for finding building drain system leaks, and we provide a companion article that lists plumbing leak detection devices including leak detection tools and devices that can monitor and shut off water supply piping if a leak is detected.

If you already know that your plumbing leak is in water supply piping or at a valve or faucet or control,

see LEAK TYPES, WATER SUPPLY or DRAIN PIPES

[Click to enlarge any image]

Plumbing & Water Supply Leak Detection Methods

You may detect a leak in building supply piping either directly, by observing water or a wet spot that is traced to a leak in the supply piping system or indirectly by observing a noise (pump cycling for no reason, dripping sounds), smell (moldy wet materials), or even simply a slow loss of water pressure at a pressure tank when no water is being used.

Examples of supply piping leak detection methods are listed below, followed by a list of water supply system leak detection tools, equipment, devices.

Plumbing Drain System Leak Detection Methods

Question: how do I check for leaks at shower and toilet drains?

2020/11/10 B Schultz asked:

How do I check a toilet and the shower drains for leaks?

This Q&A were posted originally at PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR

Moderator reply: How to detect leaks in drains and traps

Mr/s Schultz

Shower drain trap not normally visible (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comThank you for a helpful question:

Indeed a leak at a sink trap is usually easy to see: just look under the sink for water or drips.

But a leak at a toilet or shower drain is more difficult to detect since both the toilet drain and the shower or tub trap is usually underneath a floor and not visible unless that floor is over an un-finished crawl space or basement ceiling.

Our photo shows the trap on a shower drain - a plumbing trap that is usually not visible without cutting a hole in a ceiling or as in this case, gaining access below the concrete slab into which this shower drain had been placed.

Understanding what's going on with a pipe leak can help avoid making matters worse as well as help directing the repair.

Does the leak appear regardless of whether water is being run in the building or not? If so look for a leak in supply piping or a leak at a plumbing fixture faucet or shutoff valve.

Does the leak appear only when fixtures have been in use for a while? If so look for a slow leak at building drains or at a shower pan. But also look for leaks at the tub or shower controls as some controls may leak only when the control is "on".

How to Look for Shower, Tub, or Toilet Drain Leaks

Bath tub overflow leaks into wall and ceiling (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comWe use a combination of the following to look for plumbing leaks in buildings:

Signs of Shower, Tub, or Toilet Drain Leaks

Sagging tile at shower pan means leaks are likely here, either from pan leaks or from leaks at a shower drain that has been damaged by movement (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com

At our Continue Reading link just below we continue with a listing of leak detection advices that can sound an alarm, send you a notice by smartphone email or text, and that can, for some devices, actually automatically turn off water to a leaking or dripping fixture or can shut off water to the entire building if a leak is detected.


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Continue reading  at PLUMBING LEAK DETECTION & SHUTOFF DEVICES, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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PLUMBING LEAK DETECTION METHODS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING SYSTEMS

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