Where to Check for Common Plumbing Problems in Your Home

When it comes to plumbing, a little maintenance can go a long way. By checking over some of the common plumbing areas in your home, you could potentially prevent a disaster from occurring. While a water leak can happen anyplace in the home, you'll usually find one most often in the bathroom, laundry room and in the kitchen.

Look Around the Toilet

Leaky toilets aren't always obvious to spot as the leakage typically goes right down the drain rather than causing visible damage. A continuously running toilet from a faulty flapper valve can lose up to 200 gallons of water every day! This is an easy fix, but failing to do so will get expensive fast.

If you're not sure whether your toilet is leaking or not, place a few drops of food coloring in the upper tank after a flush cycle is complete. If any color appears in the bowl, call a plumber to diagnose the problem and put a stop to the leak. Lastly, a clogged toilet isn't an uncommon occurrence, but attempting to flush while clogged can cause an overflow. If a plunger doesn't clear the obstruction, a snake or drain auger can be used to clear up the problem.

Check Your Refrigerator

If there is an icemaker attached to your refrigerator, periodically check the connection of the hose to the water supply. Sometimes a wet spot in front of the refrigerator on the floor can indicate an icemaker line that has reached it's time and could potentially burst.

Take A Peek Under The Sink

If you have a dishwasher in your home, it's a good idea to regularly check on the hose connection underneath the sink. You should also look around the base of the dishwasher for any water leaks and check for water damaged flooring in nearby cabinets.

In The Bathroom

Soft areas or discoloration around the walls and floors may indicate a leakage. Double check the caulking around the tub, shower and sink to make sure that it is still secure.

Keep an eye out for drains that are emptying slower than usual. It often doesn't take much to clog up a drain in the bathroom. Check inside the counter to make sure that there are no signs of water leaking such as softening boards or small pools of water.

If you're planning on heading out of town this summer, it's a good idea to ask the person that will be checking on your home to take a quick look for any obvious signs of pipes leaking when he's there. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to preventing potential plumbing disasters.