Homeowners cannot identify the source of a plumbing leak
51 posts across 2 communities in the last 30 days; 98% from r/Plumbing.
“Hello all, tonight my garbage disposal started leaking so I have a couple of questions. it’s a badger 500, and it’s at least 10 years old (it was here when we moved in 10 years ago, no idea how long the previous owners had it) is this fixable or does it need to be replaced? its…”
“Last week our toilet clogged and required me to plunge it to get it going. Since then it seems like the flush is weak; like you have to hold the handle the entire time and even then it goes down slow. Is this a toilet issue or is there still a partial clog in the line?”
“Looking for a smart water meter that I can put on various things to measure the waste water. Water bills are blowing up over last couple of years. Getting tired of people telling me to check running toilets. Things I'm thinking of is the discharge hose or a water softener, pool…”
Numerous posts detail homeowners facing a range of plumbing problems, from toilet leaks and tankless water heater flushing difficulties to gas stove smells and cast iron pipe breaks. Many are seeking advice on repairs or replacements, highlighting frustration with aging infrastructure and unexpected maintenance needs.
SOURCES (60)
“Toilet has been leaking onto the floor and into my basement. Bought a wax ring thinking that was the problem. Toilet is off. Now what?! Looking at the pics, will a new wax ring solve the issue, or is more going on here? I'm a…”
“Very small house with just two old folks. It's a shallow well pump and I've always had it set that way, though I could be mistaken on the cut in, might be 25 or 30. It does not cycle excessively [re: expansion tank not on city water]”
“Hello all, tonight my garbage disposal started leaking so I have a couple of questions. it’s a badger 500, and it’s at least 10 years old (it was here when we moved in 10 years ago, no idea how long the previous owners had it) is this fixable or does it need to be replaced? its running fine just the leak. is this something I can do myself? I’m decently handy as long as I have a YouTube video to follow, though I will say I don’t want to mess with anything electrical. submitted by /u/C”
“Last week our toilet clogged and required me to plunge it to get it going. Since then it seems like the flush is weak; like you have to hold the handle the entire time and even then it goes down slow. Is this a toilet issue or is there still a partial clog in the line? submitted by /u/Substantial_Talk8748 [link] [comments]”
“Looking for a smart water meter that I can put on various things to measure the waste water. Water bills are blowing up over last couple of years. Getting tired of people telling me to check running toilets. Things I'm thinking of is the discharge hose or a water softener, pool overflow, etc. also on water mains so I can gauge usage overnight to see if we have leaks. This is going to be used in commercial setting (hotels). Appreciate any guidance/suggestions. submitted by /u/Live”
“I think I have a small leak (at the rate of 1-2 gallons/hr) somewhere in my sprinkler system. I have no clue where the leak is unfortunately.... Does anyone know who/what trade I should hire to investigate and fix the issue? I don't think this would involve a plumber, so perhaps just a sprinkler company? I identified the leak by looking at my usage on a water usage tracking system that my county has. I see 1-2 gallons/hr usage during the hours in which I'm certain no water was used (e.g.”
“Hello guys I am not a plumber but I dont think this drain flow is right. This is from an electric heater and my energy bill has more than 5x for the quarter and this was my first suspect. I am suspecting the water heater was heating 24/7 due to the amount of water flowing down this drain. Is this flow normal, or does this mean a problem and to the TPV or some fittings or maybe the unit itself? submitted by /u/Z3u8t3r [link] [comments]”
“Hey yall, Posted here several weeks ago, but coming back one more time with videos in hopes that it might clarify what I’ve got going on. This toilet is in the basement, and there’s 1 on the first floor and 2 on the second. Basement one gets used the least. Since we built the house in 2021, I’ve noticed the bowl level fluctuates for reasons I can’t explain. I’ve had a few plumbing companies out and they say everything is good, and everything I can research regarding the physics of how water is p”
“2 years ago we did a total apartment makeover. My wife insisted on having two small buttons instead of the “plate” as buttons. The plumber had no objections. Fast forward 2 years. Every say, sometimes multiple times per day when flushing the toilet keeps running. To fix this we need to take the to off and fix it in the water tank (picture). I understand the tubes are there to use the airflow pressure to flush, but it makes me crazy that I have to do do this every day. Does anyone have a smart so”
“My old supply line broke today (second photo) . Thankfully water alarm went off and I was able to turn off water. Put in new 9” line. Does that look good or do I need a 12 inch one? Also how often should I replace these lines so this doesn’t happen? submitted by /u/Powerful-Weight524 [link] [comments]”
“Not sure about the holes but if your tank is overflowing then that's the problem. What is the water level at when not filling? [re: Does anybody know what these holes in my toilet are?]”
“OK so I have tooooo much experience with this kind of thing. OP - take a bucket of water, dump it lightly around the tub. While you may not think much of a lil splashing water I can tell you this is most likely the case. 9 out of 10 time the homeowner will tell me: no the kid didn't splash any water around. I inform them that I have done everything they did and cannot replicate the leak. If I pull the toilet up and there isn't any water underneath it, I can guarantee it isn't the toi”
“it won't flush if the tank is not full. 2. the flapper valve is not sealing. The toilet looks like it would benifit from and complete kit to replace all the internal tank parts.”
“Just buy a generic flapper/fill valve kit for around twenty five bucks from any big box home repair store and replace the whole assay. Easy repair, will come with pictographic instructions, and you won't need to identify whatever part of your toilet is currently broken (which you may not be able to do since you are currently asking Reddit). https://preview.redd.it/4dirgcctytth1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=1017e8d22787534c8f5243727a4a62d596cbfe21”
“GET OUT OF THE PLUMBING PAGE, YOU HACK! It is obviously the rubber canister gasket that is causing this problem. Not saying they don't also need a fill valve, but that's not the issue listed.”
“Came home late at night from a two week work trip. Toilet flushed once, but the handle was kinda tough to press down. Flushed fine that once, but the water kept running a little loinger than usual. I took a a shower a little later (for maybe 10 min) and when i got out i noticed it sounded like the water was running even more, and then when i tried to flush it again, the metal handle just went down but didn't flush. Water has been running non stop since that first flush tonight. Not sure what”
“Hello friends, A few weeks ago, I asked the lovely plumbers of reddit to weigh in on an issue with the gravity fed system I’ve been working on. Briefly, the property get’s it’s water from a catchment box that is diverted from a nearby stream. It gravity feeds in a 1” polytube throughout the property, feeding sprinkers and hose bibs and, eventually, provides water to our kitchen sink. I recently installed a 1100L tank that fills from this line, and ran a separate tube direct to our house, so that”
“I have no idea how to stop it please help submitted by /u/Fearless_Isopod6478 [link] [comments]”
“The vent pipe needs to be cleared. Up on the roof. It's like 2 inch black pipe. It'll go straight up from the bathroom. Maybe take your hose up there with a pressure nossle on it. Turn it on and Feed it down the pipe a few feet and bring it back up and out. You it quick so you don't flood anything. And make sure you got the right pipe. Turn on yhe bathroom sink and you can hear it in the pipe. If you can't hear it. Its the wrong pipe”
“Not a plumber. I would expect posts to say that should be a sanitary tee, not the simple tee you have. And I thought one wasn't supposed to change direction more than 90 degrees before the tee (where you've turned almost 180), but maybe I've misunderstood that advice... Is it only after the trap that you need to restrict the turns?”
“Hello! I have a toilet that I've been having issues with for years now, I'm out of ideas on what to do before calling a plumber (I'm broke and like to try to fix things myself). I have a single story house, two bathrooms both at the back of the house, adjacent to each other, shared wall. House was built in early 80's I've owned if for 15 years. No slow drains, no gurgling sounds, good water pressure. Both toilets have new hardware in the tank, and I think adjusted correctly.”
“Does the drip stop when the toilet is empty and the water is shut off at that valve? If so, it's not the valve, it's the tank connection.”
“I believe he means if OP screws around with it… not just because of the leak. A lot of people post in here requesting help to fix problems in rentals. Which is never a good idea for the renter as they then become liable.”
“Yeah… that’s my nagging concern and why I wanted to ask people who know far more than me. This is my first tankless. I did read in one of the hundred forums I searched before asking that crossflow can sometimes trigger a combustion code. That may be anecdotal though.”
“It's coming from the small valve just right side of the gas control. Is that the drain valve?”
“Call a plumber asap type situation? I’m not remotely handy so I just don’t know much on my own sadly.”
“The toilet in one of our hall bathroom runs several times per hour on its own, which to me suggested a leaky flapper. The master bathroom backs up to it and shares the same plumbing. Sometimes I run the sink, or flush the toilet in the master bathroom and it seems to cause the other bathroom toilet to run. The offending toilet has a Fluidmaster ( undetermined age) fill valve and a new Fluidmaster flapper. What could cause this? Could it be a worn drain seat that the flapper rests on ? Looking fo”
“Put a balloon in where it exits the house and fill the system with water. It should hold 10 foot-head.”
“Depends. Many places the water meter is at the main in the curb. Everything after the meter is the owner’s responsibility. Everything before (water source to meter) is city/county’s responsibility. so a water leak in the yard is owner’s responsibility if the meter is in the yard not the house.”
“So, my dad is DIYing a new vanity in the bathroom. This evening we found a puddle of water between the vanity and toilet. Yesterday, he was sitting on the toilet "supervising" me and he did twist his body (mobility issues) and the toilet lid popped off. I put it back, no issue. So upon finding said puddle, I toweled it up. I used a flashlight and checked the connections under the sink for moisture (none), ran the water in the sink, observed, no drops. Also the vanity in the cupboard is”
“Why are people saying to base it on my home's water pressure minus a few psi? My home has 50+ psi.”
“The toilet in photos 4 and 5 needs to have its fill valve adjusted. It’s overfilling.”
“Its most likely a slow leak due to the rubber flapper (the blue thing) not forming a proper seal causing water to slowly drain. This will usually get worse over time and eventually you'll hear the toilet flushing itself because the water level gets too low and it will fill itself back up. It can happen because the seals are just crap in the first place, or if your municipal supply has a high chlorine content and/or you add bleach tablets directly to the back of your tank. If its not the flap”
You really should have a vent in between the shower and the toilet
“I didn't even realize water softeners were a thing that ran overnight, that would definitely explain the spikes while still having low daytime usage.”
“The register could be frozen. We use badger and those are notorious for going bad.”
“Problem started a few days ago leak has not increased just leaking small amounts while the water in the sinn takes a long time to drain. What can I do?? submitted by /u/Moshmochii [link] [comments]”
“you need somebody with a camera to follow that inlet and find out where the water is coming from.”
“Hi, I'm hoping people can give us suggestions for next steps. I'll try to be succinct, but thorough: Our basement pipes started knocking yesterday * when 2+ water sources are on *. (History: they have knocked on occasion, resolved with running all faucets to get out air, nothing as extreme as this before; our county does a lot of work on the pipe infrastructure.) We tested the pressure, and it read at 70 psi. We turned off the main, drained all the water from all faucets etc until nothin”
“My water bill shot up. And I believe it’s because my toilets are leaking. Well I completely replaced everything here. And I still hear this water run from time to time even though nobody has used the toilet. What’s causing this ? submitted by /u/YoungHunchoACE [link] [comments]”
“Hello plumbers of Reddit, I currently have an issue with my toilet which I'm afraid will cause real problems if I don't get it fixed soon. I don't think this is a simple water hammer issue that can be fixed by for example replacing the fill valve in my toilet, but I'd like to turn to you for help since I have close to no knowledge about this type of stuff. Due to financial reasons I'd like to avoid hiring a professional until it's absolutely necessary. I really hope you g”
Put in a check valve, if that don’t work look for some kind of leak
“Hiya all! I hope someone can give some advice. Just over a year ago after getting really ill, family amazingly chipped in to help us get a new shower room and bathroom installed as well as new pipework for the house. Family sorted out everything, they'd had the installers do some work for them previously and we're happy so arranged for them to help us. It's an old 1890s quirky house, quite narrow, over three levels. The ground floor has a small kitchen. The middle floor has the newly”
“We have two bathrooms on our second floor that are back to back (master and hallway). There is also a toilet upstairs on the third floor if that matters. The one in the hallway rarely gets used (maybe once a week or longer) but the other gets used daily(Master). A couple of days ago we flushed the one in the hallway that rarely gets used and it not only backed up but overflowed all over the floor. No one had used it in quite a while (weeks maybe) and what came flowing out was the corn chowder fr”
Got a good, correctly installed and functioning check valve installed?
“There's a leak under my kitchen sink when draining a full basin or running the dishwasher. I've had a number of unexpected expenses lately and I'd like to fix this myself rather than hiring someone. However, I remember replacing some or all of this p-trap before and it was an unexpected PITA. Could someone walk me through exactly what parts I'm gonna need to buy and how to replace them? submitted by /u/Bbect [link] [comments]”
“Called a plumber yesterday to deal with a small leak coming from a fitting connecting some old galvanized pipe and newer copper pipe. My house was built in 1936 so we've got old pipe all over the place. Plumber notices I do not have a Pressure-Reducing Valve. He measures the PSI coming from an exterior spigot and gets 150 PSI. In Maryland, you're apparently required to have a Pressure-Reducing Valve if the incoming municipal water pressure exceeds 80 PSI. He says he can't complete th”
I got a call from my city utilities of simular issue... come to find out it was a flapper in one of our bathrooms, not enough to make a noise, but enough…
“So yea either a bad meter or like MaintenanceHot3241 said it could be a toilet leaking and refilling”
“Add food coloring to your toilet tanks and wait 10 minutes. If that coloring is in the bowl your flappers need replacing. 99% of the time it's a toilet that leaks and refills all day and night. Easy fix once you identify it.”
“Our water company called us and told us we have a 31gallon an hour leak. They said it has been happening since August. We have looked everywhere. Zero water in the house or yard. No rushing water sounds. After making sure faucets and things weren't on, we checked the water meter and got these numbers. If im reading it correctly it looks like 0.0 GallonsPerMinute so no leak? We are first time home owners and have only been here 4 months so totally lost on what to do. submitted by”
“No problem. That's standard practice for PE plumbing companies. Search for a plumber on google maps. Look for a company that doesn't advertise, doesn't have brightly colored vans, and is willing to give you an estimate over the phone or offers an hourly rate, rather than a flat rate.”