A plumbing leak can wreak havoc on your home, especially if you don’t notice it right away. Unfortunately, not all leaks are apparent. That can mean dangers such as mold and wood rot can develop unchallenged for months or even years. When left unaddressed for long enough, a hidden plumbing leak can cost you tens of thousands or more in remediation and repairs!
Fortunately, there are often signs that a hidden plumbing leak may be in a home. Some of these signs can be directly observed or inferred by looking at indirect evidence of their presence. Keep reading to learn more about the possible signs of an undetected leak in your home, then contact a professional plumber for help!
1. Unexplained Dampness
You might not hear or see water pooling anywhere, but do your walls or floor feel a little damp? Although dampness in a home can be explained by things such as someone walking around after a shower or kids running around in the home after playing in the pool, unexplained dampness – no matter how slight – can be a sign of a small leak hidden within your walls or beneath your floors.
2. Wall Blisters & Bubbling Floors
If there’s a pipe leak in your walls, water may collect and form noticeable wall blisters. In most cases, water is held back only by paint or the adhesive used to apply drywall, so a “bubble” will form. Not unlike blisters you get on your body, wall blisters drain when punctured. This means it’s best to leave them alone and get professional help!
Similarly, you might notice wood flooring warp or “bubble.” If your wood floor appears uneven or seems like it’s bulging outward or inward, it’s worth an inspection to see if a leak is present.
3. Mold & Mildew
Mold and mildew require water to grow, so seeing it anywhere where there shouldn’t be water can be a sign of a leak somewhere nearby. For reference, it’s unusual to see mold on walls, ceilings, and floors anywhere in your home.
4. Musty Smells
Sometimes you might not notice a hidden leak or the mold and mildew it supports unless you detect a musty smell that doesn’t have an apparent source. If you smell a musty scent in your home with no explanation, this is a good reason to call a professional plumber out for an inspection!
5. Humidity
Humidity in your home can be caused by a malfunctioning HVAC system, but it can also occur where there’s a hidden leak in your home. The indoor environment in your home can cause water from a hidden leak to evaporate and hang out as water vapor to create humidity.
6. Water Stains
Water stains on your ceilings, walls, and floors can also indicate the locations of hidden plumbing leaks. These stains can be faint or vibrant, appearing anywhere between brown and slightly orange in color.
7. Low Water Pressure
Does it suddenly seem like water isn’t flowing through your pipes as fast as it used to? Low water pressure can have a few causes, but a common one is a plumbing leak. If you don’t notice one around your home, it may be hidden within it.
8. Increased Water Bill
Lastly, an indirect sign of a hidden leak can be an increase in your water bill. If you’re using water as you normally do, a spike in your water bill may indicate a leak somewhere in your home.
Need Help with Leak Detection?
If you suspect a leak may be hiding somewhere in your home, our expert plumbers will find it. Using advanced techniques and years of experience, Carter Quality Plumbing, LLC will find any leak in your home. If there is a leak, we’ll offer you long-lasting solutions and professional workmanship to fix it!
Learn more about how Carter Quality Plumbing, LLC can help when you contact us today!