Every homeowner’s nightmare is having a water leak inside their wall that’s slowly causing irreparable damage. It’s true that a leak inside your home’s walls can cause damage to your structure, promote mold growth, and end up costing a lot of money to repair. The good news is these leaks are not common, and if you find them within a reasonable amount of time, they don’t cause too much damage. In this article, we’ll walk you through ways of locating a water leak inside a wall if you suspect you have one.
Pay Attention to Water Pressure
Your water pressure can tell you a lot about what’s going on with your out of sight pipes. A sudden drop in water pressure when you’re filling a sink or taking a bath or shower can indicate a leak somewhere in your system. Make sure that no one has turned on another water outlet in the house. Turn one back on and if the pressure is higher, then drops again, you likely have a leak.
Monitor your Water Meter
Keeping an eye on your water meter is another good way to find a possible leak. Check your water bill history, and get an idea for the average monthly cost and usage. A sudden spike in your water consumption might be a good indication of when your leak started. Try turning off all the water in your house. Go to your water meter and check if the meter is moving. If the meter is registering water movement, but everything is turned off, you have a leak.
How to Find the Leak
If you’re pretty sure you have a leak inside your walls, the next step is finding it. There are a few tricks you can try to locate the hidden leak location.
- Food Coloring – Add a few drops of coloring to your toilet water tank and wait about 10 minutes. If the coloring shows up in your toilet bowl, that means a drip is allowing water to flow from the tank to the drain when you’re not flushing.
- Check for Mold – Dampness and mold is always a sign of excess moisture. If you notice a musky smell, changes in the color of a wall, ceiling, or paint, you may have a leak in that area that’s leading to mold growth.
- Check Your Home’s Exterior – Walk around your home’s exterior. Pay attention to the exterior walls and the areas around your home’s foundation. If you find mold or stained areas, you may have found the source of the leak, or if you find soft spots and erosion, you might have found a leak.
Need Help Finding a Leaky Pipe?
If you need help locating a water leak inside your wall, we are here for you. Top of the Line Plumbing provides plumbing services to Duval County, St. Johns County, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and the surrounding areas. There isn’t a plumbing job too big or too small for our team to handle. From repairs and repiping to hydro jetting and water filtration, Top of the Line has the experts to get the job done.
904-647-1221
