Leaks can be a stressful time for many homeowners; detecting the source of the issue can be a challenge if it is underground, but it is important to catch the problem quickly to avoid substantial water damage.
An indoor pipe leak is often easy to identify quickly. The puddles on the floor or drips from the ceiling are very problematic and disruptive, but tend to be sorted swiftly. However, it is not always easy to know how to detect pipe leak underground as they are often invisible from the surface and difficult to reach quickly, but it can be a pricey mistake if left unchecked.
From our 50 plus years of domestic experience providing leak detection in Swindon and across the South of England, we know all of the common signs of how to detect pipe leak underground and have put together our top 6 things to look out for when detecting an underground leak yourself:
Finding the soil surrounding your home to be extremely waterlogged is a key sign that there could be a leak underneath. Once the soil is saturated it will start to produce pooling. Whereas puddles usually dry up after a rainy spell, constant puddles are a sign of a pipe leak underground.
Although low pressure can be caused by problems such as clogged pipes or a faulty valve, it can also indicate an underground pipe leak. A key signal that it could be a leak is if your entire home seems to have had a drop in water pressure.
It is always frustrating to see your monthly bill spike, but often there is an underlying reason for this. If you are looking for another way how to detect pipe leak underground, is to check your monthly water bill prices. Sometimes you may receive a letter from your provider alerting you that there is a chance you may have a leak but it is good to keep an eye on things yourself. If your bills seem to be increasing but your usage has not changed, it is worth contacting us to investigate the cause of this.
You may even be able to spot from a distance that the grass in a certain spot looks different from the rest. Initially the grass above an underground leak may appear greener than normal, but after a short while it will turn brown where the grass has died due to overwatering. The ground will be soggy and as previously mentioned, will have excess puddling.
When you are at home, the last thing you want to see come out of your taps is brown, murky water! There are two reasons that this could be happening. The first is a build up in your water pipes, often down to age, that causes discolouration in the water. The second cause is a damaged pipe that needs to be repaired ASAP, often a broken pipe will allow rust and dirt into your homes water supply.
This may seem like an obvious one but often the sound may be very quiet or go unnoticed due to the sound of road traffic. The noise will differ from case to case but bubbling and whistling, are all tell-tale signs that something is not right. If you can hear a constant stream of water, however loud or quiet, it needs to be checked out as soon as possible.
Although your logical first port of call may be your water provider, several do not attend leaks on private property. Hamblin Watermains are always on hand to come and investigate your underground leak and can provide you with a free no-obligation quote. Contact us today to speak to one of our experts.
