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Most household leaks start at a faucet, a shower, or a toilet
A small leak does not look like much, but it runs all day and every day. It raises your water bill, stains the surfaces around it, and can rot cabinets and flooring over time. The good news is that the three most common sources in a home are also the easiest to spot and, in many cases, simple to stop. Here is what causes each one, what you can check yourself, and when it is time to call a plumber in Aubrey or anywhere in Denton County.
1. Leaky faucets
What to look for
A steady drip from the spout is the obvious sign. Also look for water stains or a damp spot under the sink, moisture around the base of the handle, and a water bill that has gone up with no change in how you use water.
What causes it
Inside a faucet, rubber and plastic parts wear out. In an older compression faucet, a worn washer is the usual cause. In most newer faucets, a worn cartridge or O-ring lets water by. Corroded valve seats and loose parts can also cause drips. If your faucet is old and keeps leaking after repairs, replacing it can be the more practical choice.
A basic fix
Shut off the supply valves under the sink and open the faucet to release pressure. Plug the drain so small parts do not fall in. Remove the handle, take out the worn washer, O-ring, or cartridge, and bring it to a hardware store so you can match it exactly. Reassemble, turn the water back on slowly, and check for drips. If the faucet is corroded, the parts do not match, or the leak is at the base of a fixture you cannot easily open, call us. Our faucet repair and installation page explains how that visit works.
2. Dripping shower heads and shower valves
What to look for
Some water draining from the shower head for a minute after you turn it off is normal. A drip that continues, water pooling on the shower floor, or damp spots on the wall around the shower are signs of a leak.
What causes it
If the water leaks where the shower head screws onto the pipe, the connection may need new thread tape or a new washer. If the shower head drips after the water is off, the problem is often a worn cartridge or valve behind the handle. Mineral deposits can also clog and distort a shower head, so cleaning it can help. A leak inside the wall shows up as stains on the ceiling below or the wall beside the shower.
What you can do
Unscrew the shower head, clean the threads, wrap them with fresh plumber’s tape, and reinstall it hand tight. If it still drips, the valve behind the handle is the likely cause, and that repair is worth leaving to a plumber, since it means opening the wall trim and shutting off the water to the house. See shower repair and installation.
3. Running toilets
What to look for
You may hear water running when no one has flushed, or the toilet may refill by itself every so often. Sometimes the leak is silent. To check, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait about 15 minutes without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking.
What causes it
The most common cause is a worn flapper, the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank. Over time it hardens or warps and no longer seals. Other causes include a flapper chain that is too tight or too loose, a fill valve that does not shut off at the right level, and a float set too high. A running toilet can waste a lot of water without any visible leak.
A basic fix
Turn off the supply valve at the wall and flush to empty the tank. Replace the flapper with a matching one, adjust the chain so there is only a little slack, and set the fill valve so the water stops about an inch below the overflow tube. If water leaks on the floor around the base of the toilet, that is usually a failed seal under the toilet, and it should be repaired quickly. Call us for toilet repair and installation.
How to check for a leak you cannot see
Not every leak drips. To check, turn off every faucet and appliance that uses water, then look at your water meter. If the meter dial or low-flow indicator keeps moving, water is going somewhere. Common hidden sources include a toilet, an irrigation line, a line in the wall or ceiling, or a line under the slab. When the leak is not in a fixture you can see, our leak detection service can help us locate it before it damages more of your home.
When to call right away
Shut off the main water valve and call us if you see water spreading across a floor, water coming through a ceiling, a pipe that has burst or split, or a wet spot that keeps growing. For a burst pipe or sudden flooding, see emergency leak and burst pipe repair.
Call Vor-Tex about a leak
If you cannot find the leak or the fix is more than you want to take on, call us at (469) 552-2881. We are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, with same-day or next-day service. We give you an up-front estimate before work begins. The $79 dispatch fee is applied toward the repair total when you approve the work, and our work carries a 5-year warranty on parts and labor when we supply the parts. For an idea of what plumbing work typically costs, read our plumbing cost guide for Denton County.