A hidden leak is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Everyone knows that a leaky pipe needs to be replaced as soon as possible in order to avoid serious damage to your house, but sometimes you’re just not aware that a leak is even happening, especially if the damaged pipe is in an out-of-the-way or inaccessible place. In order to prevent your home from water damage due to a hidden leak, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the signs of a leak in the house so that when you start to notice issues that can’t otherwise be explained, you know what to look for. Here are the signs of a hidden leak in your home!
Mold
It’s a pretty straightforward connection: moisture equals mold. The conditions of a leaky pipe make a perfect habitat for mold and mildew to start growing, and a surface doesn’t need to be wet for more than a day or two before patches start popping up. Cleaning up the mold won’t fix the leak, so if you see mold and mildew around the house, a damaged pipe is possibly the culprit.
Unexplained Odors
Mold and mildew are telltale signs of a leak, but sometimes they start growing in places where you really can’t see them, which makes it hard to identify the location and source of the problem. Luckily, you don’t just have to rely on sight to locate the issue! A musty odor that you can’t seem to figure out can often come from mold, mildew, or accumulated stale water that you can’t see.
Unexplained Illnesses
Another sign of a mold problem that you can’t see is if you find yourself getting sick a lot and can’t seem to figure out why. This is a sign that you should consider if you’ve noticed other signs stacking up and you can’t find any other reasonable explanation for your illnesses. For instance, if the flu is going around or someone sneezed suspiciously close to you on the bus, it’s probably not a mold issue, but if you can’t pin down another reason for your sneezing, sniffles, and watery eyes, a hidden patch of mold from a leaky pipe might be at fault.
Wall or Ceiling Discoloration
Staining on your walls or ceiling is also a sign of excess moisture, and if there’s no other source of the water that you can identify, it’s probably due to a leaky pipe in the general area.
Peeling or Blistering Walls
Both wallpaper and paint can form bubbles or blisters and start to peel off the wall when there’s too much moisture in the area. There might be other explanations, like aging wallpaper starting to droop or other sources of moisture, but if you’re noticing this in conjunction with other signs of a leak, it’s definitely time to call a plumber.
Low Water Pressure
If your house always has less-than-stellar water pressure, this isn’t necessarily something to worry about. What you really need to be looking for is sudden changes in your water pressure that might mean water is leaving your plumbing system before it gets to the faucet. If you’re noticing poor water pressure in your house that can’t be explained by anything else, like too many appliances using water at once, there’s a chance that a leaky pipe is to blame.
Water Bills Increasing
This is another sign that becomes relevant if you can’t seem to find any other explanation for it. Things like adding another person to your home or starting to water the lawn for the season can be the reason for an increase in your water bill, but if the numbers start going up and you simply can’t figure out why, there’s a chance that it could be a sign of a leak.
Being aware of these common signs of a hidden leak will help you to identify the problem as fast as possible and be able to work on getting it repaired! If you suspect you have a hidden leak in your house, The Plumbing Works can help you to fix it. Contact us today for more information.
