Water leaks in walls can cause significant and costly damage that is hard to spot. If left untreated, wall leaks can lead to crumbling drywall, rotting flooring, and mold infestation.
Start by shutting off all faucets and appliances in your home. Then, check your water meter and write down the number.
Stains
If you find stains on your walls or floor that weren’t there before, it could be a sign of water running in wall Jacksonville, FL. It can damage flooring and cause musty odors in the room.
Stains can also indicate that the sheetrock inside your walls is wet.
Another sign of a hidden leak is the sound of running water. Listen for this sound around the home, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. You may also hear this sound when the toilet flushes or when you turn on a sink or shower.
Professional plumbers use several tools to check for water leaks in the wall, including a moisture meter and an infrared camera. These devices help them pinpoint the wettest area in a wall and locate the source of the leak. Using these tools helps prevent extensive and expensive damage to the structure of your home. Also, turning off the water at the meter before you inspect it can reduce the chances of additional leaks in your home.
Discoloration
Often, the first indication that something is wrong with your walls is the appearance of a discolored spot. It usually means the drywall is damp, which may mean a hidden leak somewhere.
Sometimes, this problem is prominent enough to see the water pooling on the floor, but other times, it can be harder to pinpoint. This is especially true when the spot has been there for some time.
When this happens, a plumber can use various tools to find the source of the leak. For example, a moisture meter will detect the moisture level in the wall materials and pinpoint the location. These devices can be bought or rented from many hardware stores, and the plumbing professional will likely bring one along. They can also use an infrared camera to identify cold spots in the drywall. These areas are the ones closest to a pipe that is leaking.
Odor
Water-damaged walls can lead to rotting drywall, crumbling paint, mold growth, and other damage. Getting these hidden leaks repaired immediately is essential to avoid costly future repairs.
Wet puddles are a common sign of a leak in your wall. When you suspect a leak, shut off all your faucets and look at the home’s water meter. If the numbers are higher than usual, there’s a leak somewhere in your home.
Strange odors are another warning sign of a water leak. Structural materials like drywall absorb water like sponges and produce musty odors when damp. Musty odors are also a good indicator of undetected mold in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas.
Moisture also makes electrical components within your walls more likely to short circuit. It can be dangerous and requires professional help to resolve. Professionals use several methods to detect leaking pipes in walls, including moisture meters and thermal detection cameras. These tools measure the temperature of various materials in a wall and identify cold spots, which are often where leaks occur.
Water Damage
It is not uncommon for water to damage flooring, sheetrock, and other structural materials. Water leaks behind walls can also cause paint to flake, bubble, and discolor.
When you suspect a leak, the first thing to do is shut off your water supply. It will prevent further damage to your home. Then, go to your water meter and write down the number. Next, wait three hours and recheck the number. If the meter reads higher, this is a sign of water leaking behind your wall.
There are many ways to find a hidden leak, including using a water meter and listening for dripping or running water. But, if you can’t locate the source of the leak and it is causing significant problems in your home, then it may be time to call a plumber. They will be able to find the source of the leak, fix it, and prevent further damage.