How to Find a Water Leak Inside a Wall

“What keeps the ocean from leaking out?” answer: The seals.

As a plumber's assistant, I'm always being ordered around... "Stop that dripping, plug that leak, for God's sake... turn off the water works!"

         It's not my fault, I'm just an emotional guy.                                                         

 I  just replaced my leaking water heater. It's a tankless job, but somebody has to do it.

         *Groan*

But when it comes to leaks inside the walls of your home, we do not joke.

Leaks behind walls are often undetected until almost too late. As a homeowner you will need to notice leaks in time to prevent long-term effects such as structural damage and potentially serious mold problems within the walls. A small drip-drip that goes undetected can cost thousand more in flooring, ceiling, and wall repair than the actual point of leak plumbing repair by itself.

Paschall Plumbing’s experienced leak detection tips:

Water bill

– Does your water bill show a sudden spike in usage? While water usage in Nevada can fluctuate greatly depending on the season, the average usage for a family of four is about 100 gallons per person per day. Water usage significantly higher than this average can be an indicator of hidden leaks.

Walls

 – Early detection? Do you hear ‘drippy’ sounds even though you just turned off the tap or flushed the toilet? Instead of making a quick exit from the bathroom or kitchen, take a few seconds to quietly listen for any faint dripping sounds that may be coming from inside a nearby wall. Another detection method is to first read your water meter, then go through your house turning off every place where there is running water in your home. Reach behind the toilets to turn the knob off, underneath the sinks to turn off those knobs, and behind the clothes washer to turn off those knobs; then check to see if the meter is moving. If it is, you have an interior leak.

– Do you notice changes in wall texture? Are there bubbles or drooping sections in your paint or wallpaper? Does your drywall appear to sag downward? Does the wall appear to curve outward? If the leak has been ongoing. as the water leak saturates the wall your home’s drywall will eventually buckle under the weight causing distortions in the usual texture.

– Do you see signs of mold or mildew? Early on, mold will look like brown or black densely clustered dots. But not seeing mold does not mean that it is not silently growing inside of walls that have been saturated by water leaks. Mold can cause significant and potentially serious health problems.

 – Do you smell musty odors? Sometimes an odor is the only sign of this kind of deep in the wall leak.

Flooring

– Do you see standing puddles of water near a wall? Is your carpet noticeably wet under your feet? Is the always wet in a certain area of your home? Say near your washing machine or dishwasher, or in your bathroom by your sink, toilet, or shower?

Ceilings

– Do you see brownish discoloration or changes in ceiling texture? Some homes have plumbing in the attic for the air conditioning or heater. Also, check to see if your roofing gutters are clogged because these clogs can cause water to leak into your walls. Schedule a quick check annually or quarterly to see if you need to flush out A/C drainpipes and unclog gutters.

Exterior/Foundation Walls

– These leaks are rarely caused by leaky plumbing. Rather, outside water sources can seep into your foundation. When this happens, water can seep into your interior walls. We have tips for digging trenches around your foundation and for creating protective barriers.

If you detect an inside-the-wall water leak, call Paschall Plumbing. We’ll bring our specialized leak detection equipment right out, quickly pinpoint the exact location of your leak, and let you know just what we can do to repair the plumbing before the damage gets any more severe.

We never get tired of saying that “Whatever your plumbing needs may be, you can count on Paschall to dispatch one of our experienced technicians to assess your plumbing issues. We take pride in educating our customers on their options for repair or new installations, so you can make an educated decision. We aim for Paschall Plumbing to be your best experience each time!

Call us anytime at 775-825-6500, 24/6 Monday through Saturday.