Even a small plumbing leak can inflate your water bill massively. These problems don’t always occur in plain sight, but you still can stay on top of their development and respond appropriately to save your home from expensive water damage.

Plumb-Rite Plumbing in Kalispell, MT, recommends taking a few proactive steps to spot leaks so you can save aggravation and money.

• Inspect Your Hot Water Tank Regularly: Old hot water tanks are particularly prone to leaks. Important components to check include the pressure relief valve and drain lines, especially near pipe fittings. Visible water on your tank might be condensation, but you can verify its source during your inspection by wiping it dry and watching the area to see if the water returns.

• Check Your Water Meter: This can happen at night or some other period of several hours when nobody in your home is using water or running appliances. After water usage has ceased, note the meter’s reading. Several hours later, check to see if the meter reading has changed. Repeat this test a few times during the same time of day to verify consistency.

• Eliminate Toilet Leakage: Continuously running toilets are a common source of residential leaks, but they are easy to fix through troubleshooting or calling a plumber. If you don’t know whether your toilet is leaking, one way to find out is to add food coloring to the tank and check to see if it appears in the bowl a few minutes later.

Plumbing leaks can occur anywhere in your system, from the bathroom faucet to underground pipes. To make sure you aren’t spending money every year on wasted water, follow the above tips. For residential plumbing services anywhere in Montana’s Flathead Valley, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, and other nearby areas, call Plumb-Rite Plumbing at (406) 257-7795. Visit their website for more information about their plumbing services.