The most common water leak in a house is a running or leaking toilet, usually from a worn flapper or fill valve, followed by dripping faucets and showerheads. These waste water quietly. The leaks that cause the most damage are different: burst supply lines, water heater failures, slab leaks and slow drips inside walls or cabinets.
Key takeaways
- Toilets and faucets are the most frequent leaks; most are inexpensive fixes for a plumber or handy homeowner.
- Supply hoses, water heaters and hidden pipe leaks cause the most damage.
- A water meter test can reveal a leak you cannot see.
- Pipe repair is a plumber's job; finding and drying hidden water is ours.
Why are toilets the most common leak?
A toilet has moving parts that wear out. A flapper that no longer seals lets water trickle into the bowl around the clock, and a fill valve that sticks can keep running. Because the water goes down the drain, there is no puddle to warn you.
A simple check is to put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait without flushing, and see whether color appears in the bowl. If it does, the flapper is leaking.
Which leaks cause the most water damage?
- Supply lines to toilets, sinks, washers, dishwashers and refrigerator ice makers, which can burst at full pressure.
- Water heaters, especially older tanks that corrode and leak at the bottom.
- Drain leaks under sinks that drip into cabinet bases for weeks.
- Pipe leaks inside walls and ceilings.
- Slab leaks under concrete floors in slab homes.
- Shower pans, grout and caulk that let water into the subfloor.
Are some leaks more common in older Sacramento homes?
Yes. Homes in older neighborhoods often still have galvanized steel supply pipe, which corrodes from the inside and develops pinholes, and cast iron drains that can crack. Raised floors over crawl spaces mean a slow leak may drip under the house unnoticed.
Newer slab homes in suburban subdivisions have different risks, such as supply lines running under or through the slab. Our article on slab leak water damage covers the warning signs for those homes.
How can you tell if you have a hidden leak?
Turn off every fixture and appliance that uses water, then watch your water meter. If the leak indicator or dial keeps moving, water is going somewhere. City of Sacramento customers can also sign up for leak alerts from the Department of Utilities, which detects unusual use and notifies homeowners.
Other signs include a higher bill, the sound of running water when nothing is on, warm spots on a slab floor, musty smells, stains, bubbling paint and warped flooring or baseboards.
Who should fix a household leak?
Simple toilet parts and faucet washers are common do it yourself repairs. Anything involving supply or drain piping, a water heater or a slab should go to a licensed plumber. In the City of Sacramento, water heater replacement and re-plumbing require permits through the Community Development Department.
We do not repair plumbing. Our work finding hidden leaks helps locate where hidden water is and how far it spread, and then we extract and dry it after the plumber fixes the source.
What should you do the moment you find a leak?
Shut off the fixture valve or the main, and turn off power to anything wet at the breaker. Catch dripping water with buckets and towels, and move belongings out of the way.
Take photos before cleanup, then call a plumber for the source. If water has reached drywall, flooring or a ceiling, start drying the same day. If the leak looks like it is between the meter and the street, it is usually the water provider's side: Sacramento County says it is responsible for leaks from the meter out to the street, and City of Sacramento customers report water service problems through 311.
How can you prevent the most damaging leaks?
Replace rubber appliance hoses with braided lines and check them yearly. Know where your main shutoff is. Have older water heaters inspected and put a drain pan under tanks in living areas.
Look under sinks every few months, recaulk tubs and showers when caulk cracks, and consider leak sensors near the water heater, washer and dishwasher. Turning the main off before a long trip prevents the worst surprises.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common cause of water leaks?
Worn parts and age: toilet flappers, faucet washers, rubber hoses and corroded pipe.
Can a leaking toilet damage the floor?
A leak into the bowl does not, but a failed wax ring or supply line can soak the subfloor around it.
How do I find a leak behind a wall?
Look for stains, soft drywall and musty smells, and use a moisture meter. A water meter test confirms a leak exists.
Is a dripping faucet worth fixing?
Yes. It wastes water and the parts are usually inexpensive.
Can a water heater leak without a puddle?
Yes. A slow leak at a fitting can drip into a drain pan or behind the tank and soak nearby walls before you see water on the floor.
If you suspect water is hiding in a wall, floor or ceiling, call (916) 848-5765. We trace and dry hidden moisture, including water damage restoration in Auburn, CA and across the region.