How To Find The Source Of A Water Leak In Home
Any sort of water leak in your home should be taken very seriously. However, water leaks are not always as easily identifiable as seeing a puddle. Sometimes, finding the source of a water leak can be challenging.
If you notice any of the following things happening in your home, you may be experiencing a hidden water leak.
- Sound of continuous water running with nothing turned on
- Changes in your water meter reading when water isn’t being used.
- Water bill escalation
- Wet, soggy, moist, or discolored walls or floors
- Warm spots in your floor
If you’ve noticed any of the above things happening in your home and you suspect that there is a hidden water leak, here are some suggestions to help find the source:
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS –
Open cabinet doors under sinks and search with a flashlight for moisture at joints.- Look for any corrosion.
- Clear out the cabinets to look for any stains, dampness, mold, peeling, etc.
- Look for loose tiles.
- Examine grout and caulk joints.
- Look for water around base of toilet.
- Is there discoloration on ceiling below toilets/sinks/showers.
- Check for loose fittings.
FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS –
First examine the floor around fixtures and appliances that use water.- Cracked or warped flooring could be a sign of moisture.
- Spongy, soft spots in a floor can also indicate a water leak or presence of moisture.
- Bubbling or stains in ceilings or walls are a good indication of a water leak.
- Look for peeling paint.
BASEMENT & CRAWLSPACES –
- Inspect exposed pipes in these areas.
- Look for corrosion or moisture.
If you see the presence of mold, mildew, or rotted wood, this could be an indication that your water leak is coming from this area.- However, water may have traveled downward to an area like your basement and the actual leak may not have started here. In this case, examine what’s above as well.
If during this inspection you believe you have found the source of your water leak, it is important to remedy this issue as soon as possible. A water leak left untreated can result in dangerous mold growth and/or damages associated with flooding or burst pipes. Mold remediation and flood damages can be extremely serious and expensive.
If you suspect for any reason that there is some sort of water leakage within your home, we suggest calling a plumber immediately, to prevent these bigger issues from occurring. Your plumber can both identify the source, and repair it. In some cases, these leaks may be small and can be repaired without calling a professional. If you believe that you found the source of your water leak, and you were able to repair it yourself, but you are still experiencing potential hidden leak signs, this could be an indication that the problem wasn’t fixed completely/correctly, that there is a bigger problem, or that the actual source was not discovered. In some cases, your water leak could be stemming from an issue with your main water line.
It is important to take every situation involving water leaking in your home very seriously. Contact Kulk’s Plumbing & Heating for any of your plumbing needs. If you are experiencing flooding, or any other emergency plumbing situation, we are available 24.7 to help in these unpredictable situations.
