How to check for a hidden water leak in a Boca Raton home
A higher water bill or a damp patch does not always mean a burst pipe. These checks help Boca Raton and nearby Palm Beach County homeowners gather useful information before requesting a leak investigation.
Five checks you can do safely
1. Run a meter test
Turn off every faucet, appliance, irrigation zone and ice maker. Note the water meter reading or watch its low-flow indicator for 15–30 minutes. Movement with everything off suggests water is escaping somewhere, but it does not tell you where.
2. Separate irrigation from the house
Many Palm Beach County homes run sprinkler systems that share the same meter. If your irrigation has its own shut-off or controller, repeat the meter test with it isolated. A leak that disappears when irrigation is off points outdoors rather than to indoor pipes.
3. Check the toilets
Add a few drops of food colouring to each toilet tank and wait without flushing. Colour appearing in the bowl means the flapper or fill valve is leaking, a common and inexpensive cause of higher water use.
4. Look for slab and wall clues
Warm spots on tile or concrete floors, hairline cracks with dampness, baseboards that swell, musty cabinets or the sound of running water at night can indicate a concealed supply or hot-water line leak. Photograph what you see and note when it started.
5. Inspect what is visible
Look under sinks, behind toilets, around the water heater and at washing machine hoses. Corrosion, mineral crust or drips at fittings are worth reporting even if they seem minor.
If water is actively escaping and you can safely reach the main or fixture shut-off valve, close it. Keep away from wet outlets and electrical equipment, and do not open walls or floors to search for a leak yourself.
Condos and shared buildings
- Find out who controls the main shut-off for your unit and the building, and keep that contact handy.
- Tell the building manager or association promptly if water may be reaching a neighbouring unit or common wall.
- Ask about access rules, work hours and any approval needed before walls, ceilings or floors are opened.
What to tell us when you call
Share your service address and ZIP code, your meter test result, where you noticed signs and when, any recent plumbing work, and whether the home is on a slab or has shared walls. Ask how the source will be located, what access may be needed, and whether the estimate covers repair only or also restoration.
- Leak detection and repiping services
- Boca Raton plumbing and AC service
- Palm Beach County community guide
- Plumbing maintenance plan
This page describes service coverage; it does not indicate a staffed office in Boca Raton. Florida Plumbing License #CFC1430609.
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