As a homeowner on Chicago’s Northwest Side, it’s always a headache to find out you have a leak somewhere – especially if it’s already caused water damage to your home. Being the #1 residential service plumber on Chicago’s Northwest Side, the team at Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer understands what’s at stake and offers the best residential plumbing repairs in town. But beyond that, we want to help you do more than just get the best all-around plumbing services in Chicagoland. We want to help you avoid any more damage while you await our team.

To that end, we’ve put together this article in the hopes that it might help even one Northwest Side homeowner avoid any more damage than they’ve already suffered from the leak. And while we’re happy to provide our insights into what to do after you discover a leak there’s no substitute for calling (773) 633-6139 right away since that will notify the team at Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer of your issue and need for leak-ending plumbing repairs.

Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer’s 6-Step Leak Action Plan

As we said before, leaks can be real headaches if they’re not discovered early because of the damage water can do to the structure of your home on Chicago’s Northwest Side. But never fear, we have a proven action plan containing five simple steps that will help you find out what’s causing your leaking issue and put an end to whatever is causing the troubles. While we believe strongly in this action plan, it’s most important elements are #1 and #6 so make sure to do both in every plumbing leak circumstance.

Leak Action Plan Step #1: Shut The Water Off At The Source

As soon as you discover a leak in your home’s plumbing system – be it a leaking faucet, a leaking toilet, a leaking sink, a leaking shower or even a leaking valve or spigot – you need to turn the water off at the source. Each fixture has a shutoff valve but if you can’t find it and worry about continued damage taking place you’ll need to turn the water off to the home. Every home on the Northwest Side will have an emergency shutoff valve and this article we wrote titled, “Household Plumbing 101: Emergency Shutoff Valves” should help you find it.

Leak Action Plan Step #2: Clean Up Any Standing Water

This may seem obvious but we wanted to state it clearly anyway. By removing all the water and cleaning up the space you or the plumber from Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer will have a much easier time finding the root cause of the leak. You don’t have to go crazy cleaning but be sure to soak up all the standing water and wipe down any areas you believe could be the source of the leaks. That’s just solid preparation for the investigation that’s about to begin. We have to find the leak after all.

Leak Action Plan Step #3: Investigate The Leak Source

This may be a step you wish to leave to the professionals from Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer, but if you’re interested in finding the root cause of your leak prior to the plumbers arriving then you’ll want to start digging into the problem yourself. Here are some questions you’ll want to ask and answer to figure out what’s happening:

• Where is the water originating from?
• What is the condition of the plumbing?
• Is water damage visible in walls or ceilings?
• How much water was leaking?

The answers to these questions will help you and the plumber from Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer find a cause for your leaking issue. Remember, some leaks can originate behind walls or within floorboards where plumbing pipes are present so it may be difficult for you to find it yourself. This is where a video plumbing inspection can save you tons of money on unnecessary demolition so call Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer at (773) 633-6139 before you tear up your home.

Leak Action Plan Step #4: Check The Water Meter

This one may be easier for some people than others but it’s still relevant because it can tell you a lot about how your Northwest Side home is using water. If you turn off all the water using fixtures in your home – so no faucets running, no dishwasher in operation, no sprinklers, etc. – you should see your water meter change to reflect no water being used within the home. If it doesn’t change at all then you have a serious leak. If it changes as you’d expect then it’s probably a smaller leak but still something you need to have resolved to save money and damage to your home.

Leak Action Plan Step #5: Call Your Water Company

If your water meter threw weird readings at you, or if it seems as if the water was really shutoff to your home during your test, it might be a problem with the city’s end of your plumbing system. Waterlines and sewer lines can have an impact on leaks in your home so it’s worth checking with them if you feel the readings from your water meter deem it worthwhile. Of course the pros from Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer can help with this via a service call at a great price.

Leak Action Plan Step #6: Call Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer

No matter what you’ve uncovered in the previous steps, and no matter what type of problem you think it is, the best option you have available to you on Chicago’s Northwest Side is a call to Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer at (773) 633-6139. Our licensed, insured and highly skilled plumbing professionals will find the problem and solve it while keeping you firmly apprised at every turn. With more than 500 five-star reviews of our residential plumbing services from homeowners across Chicago’s Northwest Side we’re the best bet you have for stellar service and outstanding results.

Don’t delay either as every second means more water damage to your Northwest Side home. Reach out to the most trusted plumbing team in all of Illinois – Vanguard Plumbing & Sewer. Can’t call in directly? Use our contact form and our team will call you back at a time that works for you!