Some signs of leaks within a wall are as obvious as a Portland summer day is long.
For example, peeling paint or wallpaper that’s bubbling are signs that there could be a leak behind a wall.
Puddles or wet carpets are possible signs of a water leak, too.
A musty smell in a room is another clue.
Fortunately, good news comes in twos:
- You don’t have to play a guessing game to detect a wall leak
- There are ways to fix the problem before it causes extensive damage.
Let’s take these one at a time.
How To Detect Wall Leaks
Wondering how to tell if there’s a leak behind a wall, or what test can be performed to detect a leak? You don’t necessarily need to be a professional plumber to sleuth out the problem.
You may, however, need professional advice to find the source of the leak or to cut a hole in the wall to verify that there’s a leaking pipe. (Note: It’s not always a leaky pipe or a plumbing leak at all; it could be coming from your roof. More on that in a bit.)
It’s important to get the problem sorted out sooner rather than later — i.e., immediately after discovering evidence of a hidden leak. If you don’t, you may find yourself in the middle of a much more expensive water damage restoration project.
Slow leaks can cause fast problems, such as mold, rotting wood, and structural damage. So keep an eye out for leaks, especially if you’re working on a home improvement project.
Here is a brief overview of ways in which it’s possible to diagnose a leak inside a wall from outside that wall.
- Look for puddles or wet spots. The most obvious sign of a problem within a wall. Pay close attention to walls and floors near appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, and bathroom fixtures.
- Discoloration on a wall or beneath tiles next to a wall. This may be hard to spot, so look for slight, irregularly shaped discolorations.
- Mold or mildew. (Either the odor or the actual mold or mildew itself.)
- Textural changes. If the wall, wallpaper, or paint appears to have changed texture (become rougher or started sagging, etc.), then there may be a leak behind that wall. A leak behind an upstairs wall will also discolor portions of your ceiling, so look up as well as down!
- Higher-than-usual water bills. If your water bill goes up for no reason that you can determine, you may want to call a plumber to look for leaks within walls.
- Use a moisture meter. This nifty gadget is designed to locate moisture within walls. You can find one at most hardware stores.
How To Fix A Wall Leak
Your best bet is to call Meticulous Plumbing. We have years of experience diagnosing and fixing wall leaks.
It may be as simple as working to find the leak and then patching a hole in a pipe.
The problem may also require more extensive repairs, such as cutting a hole in the wall and replacing a leaky pipe.
If the problem has gone on for a long time without being diagnosed, then you may have extensive restoration projects ahead of you.
Don’t wait too long to have an expert plumber give your home’s plumbing system a good looking over.
Meticulous Plumbing stands ready to solve your problems, with quality work and customer service that has set the industry standard.
Contact us today!
