A leak in a pipe may not seem like a big crisis compared to a fire or even a flood. However, like a disease in the body, ignoring a leak allows the problem to get bigger and more serious over time, requiring a more extensive and expensive solution to deal with it when it finally impacts home life enough to want to deal with it. First Call 24/7 Inc. specializes in finding hidden leaks and has the experience and special tools to find them quickly, but if you think you may have a hidden leak, here are a few ways to try to locate them yourself.
Confirm a Water Leak With A Water Meter Check
If you can’t find any visual evidence yet, one of the fastest ways to confirm your suspicion of a hidden leak is to check your water meter. Once water leaves your water pipe, whether it is through a faucet or a leak, your water meter registers that water as “used,” and you’ll be charged for it.
Turn off all taps and other water-using appliances, don’t flush toilets in the home, and make a note of the water meter. Then check again after a few hours with no water usage has passed; three is usually sufficient. If no other devices in the house use water, and your meter still shows water in use, you have a leak somewhere.
Use Your Nose To Smell Mildew or Mold Growth
Another strategy if you can’t find any visual evidence is relying on your nose. Given enough time, any leak can eventually moisten an area and create a damp spot where mold can form. This is much more likely if that wet area is also in a cool, darker space, which is an environment that favors certain kinds of mold infestation. Once the mold reproduces in larger numbers, sending spores into the air, you can smell those spore concentrations as a musky scent. If you have any areas of your home that smell musky but appear dry, the leak could be hidden in the walls, ceiling, or floor.
Use Your Ears To Hear the Drip of a Water Leak
This is both a good and bad situation, but in some cases, a leak may be serious enough that the water flow is audible. If this is the case, you may be able to track where in the home a leak is, even if you can’t see it, by listening for the sound of water flow.
You may need to listen for actual water flow or a “drip” sound from a leaky faucet, except that none of your faucets are dripping. Whatever the case, it’s best to eliminate all other noises in the house, so you can better listen for the sound of hidden water leaks.
Look For Water Damage Stains or Deformation in Ceilings and Walls
Other circumstances and leak locations mean that sometimes a thorough visual inspection will show where leaks are located. For example, if you notice discolored stains in one part of your ceiling or wall, small amounts of water are likely leaking in that area. On the other hand, if it’s a more serious leak, enough water may have gathered to create “lumps” or “bumps” in walls and ceilings where water accumulates. If the leak is in the water line leading to the house, this may even manifest as a much greener, healthier patch of plants or grass.
Buy A Moisture Detector
This is the most expensive option and is only recommended for people with disposable income. Moisture detectors are the equipment that professional plumbers and experienced leak detection specialists and leak repair teams have. First Call 24/7 Inc. is one such team with the experience and equipment to quickly track down hidden leaks and assess the best way to repair them.
If you have a hidden leak and want to stop it from causing even more damage to your North Lauderdale, FL home, you need a professional leak detection and leak repair team, and that’s where we can help.
Contact First Call 24/7 Inc. at 866-637-9669; if you need 24 emergency assistance, or leave your name and telephone number on our website's contact page for a free consultation.
