- Is the leak severe? If so,
- Find your main water line valve. It will be most commonly near the water heater or utility closet. Sometimes it is in the garage or one of the interior closets. In rare occasions, it may be located in the exterior of the house next to the water meter (see below).
- Shut the water line off. Do NOT get confused withe PRV valve which regulates the pressure to the entire home. The OFF position is when the valve is NOT in alignment with the pipe. Also do not get confused with the spigot that runs water to the exterior
- Don’t get confused with the spigot that runs the outside of the house
- Go outside and find the main water meter. It’s typically a cement box buried in the ground near your front curb. You can pry the cover open with a long screwdriver or pipe wrench.
- If you’ve shut the main water off and the red dial on the meter is not spinning then you probably have a leak somewhere in the home.
- This link has a lot more detailed info.
- For mild leaks or drips. If you’re constantly finding drips or water around an appliance but can’t pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from,
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A good tip is to place a blue paper towel all around the appliance and wait 30 mins. The damp spots should indicate what exactly is leaking. Most of the time it’ll be some loose screws or nuts or seals that just need tightening.
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For leaks around your sink, your P-trap is a likely culprit. On a metal trap, tighten them hand tight plus about a half turn using slip-joint pliers to grip the nut. On a plastic trap, just hand tighten and if needed, give the nut about a quarter of a turn with slip-joint pliers.
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For all other appliances such as your fridge or washing machine, move the appliances away from the wall so you can inspect the pipes or hoses more easily. Look for drips around the water supply hose or pipe connection. Tighten them if they are loose. Install new gaskets as necessary.
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