Typical Plumbing Leak Locations

As leaks can happen anywhere within your home's plumbing system, finding its sources may prove to be difficult. Leaks often lead to costly water bills, but taking the time to hunt them down can help you reduce your home utility expenses. Here are some of the most common places where you can find water leaks in your home and what you can do to fix them.

Holding a large amount of pressure caused by heat, hot water tanks tend to develop leaks quite easily, especially at their pressure relief valves. Check for hissing sounds at these valves, which is a sure sign of a leak. If these valves are connected directly to a drain, you may have to remove the drain pipe to detect any signs of a leak.

Mechanical parts wear down over time; the tank of your toilet bowl has quite a few of these. Take the lid off the tank and listen for any hissing sounds. Occasionally, rust on the hinges supporting the bobber can keep it from floating all the way up, causing the valve on the tank to remain open.

A garden hose with a watering attachment connected to a tap will eventually develop a leak due to water pressure. With the tap on and the watering attachment closed, check for leaks along the hose line and at the connection points.