How To Catch A Leak Before Major Damage Occurs

Many times, your home or plumbing system will show signs of a leak long before there’s a puddle in the middle of your floor. If you know the signs to search for, you can catch a leak when it’s small and prevent costly repairs. Take a few minutes each month to thoroughly check your house for these warning signs.

1. Small Water Spots on the Walls and Ceilings
2. Overly Damp Ground in the Yard That’s Not Caused by Rain
3. Reduced Water Pressure
4. A Mildew Smell
5. Small Cracks in the Foundation
6. An Increased Water Bill
7. The Sound of Water Dripping
8. Check the Water Meter
9. Water Puddles Around Appliances
10. Perform a Dye Test

There are many warning signs of water leaks. However, it can be a challenge to know how to find hidden water leaks. Use the four tips below to learn how to catch a leak and prevent costly damage.

1. Water Spots on the Walls and Ceilings

Leaks can cause water spots on your walls and ceilings. These spots, which are usually brown or yellow, can suggest that there’s a leak in your roof. If there’s a bathroom right above the water spot in question, leaky plumbing could be the culprit.

Water spots often only form if a leak has been occurring for a long time. As such, you’ll want to fix the problem as soon as possible.

2. Overly Damp Ground in the Yard

A leaking water line can cause a damp and soggy yard. Check around the outside of your home and the lawn for mud, puddles, or patches of greener grass.

3. Reduced Water Pressure

When taking a hot shower or washing your hands, you want a consistent stream of water, not a trickle. Reduced water pressure can be caused by sediment buildup or water leaks. With a leak, you’ll only get a small stream of water—or in a worst-case scenario, little-to-no water at all.

4. A Mildew Smell

If your home smells musty, you could have a buildup of mold and mildew because of a leak. You can inspect your home for visible mold and mildew. Start your search by checking floors, walls, baseboards, and ceilings in your bathroom and kitchen.

5. Small Cracks in the Foundation

Has a crack suddenly appeared in your home’s foundation? This worrisome problem can be the result of a leaking pipe. It’s crucial to address the leak as soon as possible to avoid additional damage to your foundation.

6. An Increased Water Bill

If your water bill has increased suddenly, a leak is likely to blame. Even small leaks that you might initially brush off can add up over time. Larger leaks, however, can cause unexpected and significant spikes in your water bill. 

7. The Sound of Water Dripping

Don’t dismiss sounds of dripping water; these noises can indicate a leak somewhere in your home. Fortunately, this dripping sound can be helpful when trying to learn how to catch a leak. You can use the dripping sound to pinpoint the leak’s location.

8. Check the Water Meter

If you want to know how to catch a leak, familiarize yourself with your home’s water meter. When you monitor your water meter and notice a change, this can indicate a leak somewhere in your home.

How do you use your water meter to check for leaks? The first step is to turn off all the water in your home. Shut off all water faucets, as well as the dishwasher and washing machine. Afterward, wait about two hours and check if the numbers on the water meter have changed. If the numbers have changed drastically, you have a leak somewhere in your home.

9. Inspect Your Appliances for Water Puddles

Does a change in your water meter suggest there’s a leak located somewhere in your home? If so, the next step in learning how to catch a leak is to inspect your appliances and fixtures. Go around to your home and check for water pooling around your toilets, showers, dishwasher, washing machine, and water heater.

If you notice puddles, immediately shut off the water supply valve to the leaking appliance. It’s essential that you call a professional plumber for assistance as soon as possible. Even small leaks can lead to significant issues down the road. An emergency plumber in Charleston can help fix the problem before it worsens.

10. Perform a Dye Test

Your toilet may still have a leak even if you didn’t find any water pooling around its base. How is this possible? Your toilet could be experiencing an interior leak.

Fortunately, it’s easy to learn how to find hidden water leaks in your toilet. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If you have an internal leak, you will find that the food dye has moved to your toilet bowl within five minutes.

Fix Leaks With the Professionals

From high water bills to water spots, it’s always best to catch a leak early by watching for these signs. If you see any of them or have performed one of the tests above, don’t hesitate to call a trusted, fully trained technician from LimRic Plumbing, Heating & Air to repair your home’s pipes. Our team knows how to find hidden water leaks and can fix the problem quickly and effectively.

It’s crucial that you address plumbing system leaks promptly. Any unwanted water in your home can lead to destructive—and irreversible—water damage. If you need leak detection services and repairs, turn to LimRic’s experienced plumbing contractors in Charleston, SC, right away!