How To Find A Water Leak Inside a Wall?

March 5, 2021

How To Find A Water Leak Inside a Wall?

Everyone hates water leakages on walls!

Not only could it damage our property, but it also has a detrimental effect on our health since it gives molds room to grow.

So as soon as we see one, we fix it right away.

But not so fast.

It is difficult to mend a problem when you don’t know where it came from. Sometimes locating the source of the leak is tricky.

But you needn’t worry.

This article will answer the frequently asked questions about water leakages. And surely, you can resolve your water leak problem in no time!

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Signs of a water leak inside your wall

Finding water leaks inside the wall is the most challenging part. Sometimes, it damages your furniture first before you’ll know that you have one. And, we don’t want that.

But eyes here,

These are the early signs of water leaks.

Discoloration- The most noticeable sign is the discolored areas in your walls caused by the frequent moisturization.
Molds- It’s natural to have one in bathrooms. However, if you notice brown or black mold spots anywhere else in your home, expect that you have a broken pipe or a water leakage problem.
Wet areas- You don’t have to be a plumber to know that a damp wall implies leakage. However, that doesn’t mean that the leak is there. The leak could’ve traveled from a different spot before it reached your wall.
Peeling paint or wallpaper- Water will remove the natural adhesion of these materials to your wall.
Warped floor or ceiling- Sponginess is a sign. When your floor feels slippery and damp, you probably have a water leakage problem.
Musty smell- Water leakage appears on areas you least expected. So if you don’t see visible signs but notice an unpleasant odor, check out your walls!
Pools of water- Do I have to explain it further? If it’s not from your appliances, then where else?
Dripping sounds- No smell nor visible signs, but annoying tapping sounds? It sounds like a leakage problem for me.
High water bill- If there’s wasted water, expect an increased charge. So if you want to lessen your bill, find the plumbing leak!

What causes water leaks inside a wall?

Well before that,

The first thing you should know is the reason why we hide the hideous plumbing pipes. And this is self-explanatory. Simply because it will look ugly when exposed outside. In terms of vulnerability, you might hit it accidentally when doing chores.

But the downside for that is?

It will be difficult for you to relocate them again for fixing. These pipes still tend to burst under pressure or get punctured over time. But those were just a few of the reasons. Other factors include:

If your plumber used low-quality materials, the pipe’s chance of getting crushed by the concrete’s weight is high.
The intense temperature could also be a problem. May it be freezing cold or scorching heat, it could quickly weaken your pipes.
Sometimes, there are external pressures that could rupture your waterways.
The leading cause of water leaks in old houses is corrosion on metallic pipes.

That’s all there is to it.

But no matter what the cause is, we could all agree on one thing!

That we have to find an immediate solution once we detect the problem!

How to Detect Water Leaks in Walls?

Finding the whereabouts of water leaks can be frustrating. Most of the time, we figure where the leak is when it already damaged our properties. And we wish we could’ve found it sooner!

But do not worry!

This guide will provide you a step-by-step procedure for detecting leaks so your home could finally be water leak-free!

Wet carpet? A pool of water beside a wall? If you see one, there’s a chance that you have a water leakage problem. But, calm down and do not immediately conclude! You must also check for nearby appliances like water machines or the if the leak is from the bathroom or kitchen. It could just be an unexpected water spillage.

Touch your walls. A water-logged wall has a distorted texture that forms downward sags or bubbly round shapes.
Molds and mustiness is also a sign. So put this in mind. If you see a densely clustered speck in your wall, immediately inspect for leakage. It is dangerous for people with allergies. It could also pose serious health problems depending on the time and nature of exposure.

In small homes, detecting leakages could be simple, but that’s not the same for large establishments. So if you didn’t see or hear any signs, yet you still have a bill higher than usual, There’s a way to verify it! Simply turn off all your water-consuming appliances at home. Then, wait for 3 hours. Check if the water consumption increased. If it did, then you’ll have to check all your pipes indoors because there’s undoubtedly a leak.

Sometimes the leaks weren’t due to the pipes. It could be from clogging of eaves or a broken downspout. Thing is: Weather condition contributes mainly to this, and it is inevitable. And homes are prone to clogging if they do not have downspouts. Water could flow down your walls due to undrained rain or snow. You could resolve the clogging problem if there’s regular roof maintenance. So check up your roof annually!

Well, the structure of the wall is not that complicated to assess. Sometimes, there are interior cracks where the water seeps. Then it flows and soaks your floor. But it’s pretty easy to solve! To dig a trench is one way. It must go inside the wall to reach the vacated area. Then apply sealant, epoxy, or concrete. Another is to remove all the damaged parts of the wall before patching it up. And done! Leakage solved!

Modern problems require modern solutions, they say. If you have a moisture meter, it can immediately tell you if there’s a leak in your wall. So the wise way to use it? Put it in different parts of the wall. The one with the highest moisture is the one nearest to the leak.

Well, if you’re the techy type of person, you might’ve had an infrared camera. Its heat detection ability will tell you the parts of your wall with the coolest temperature. So if your wall leaks, you can notice how its temperature differs from the rest of the wall. And obviously, The coldest, which appears as purple or blue, will point to the water leak source.

The water leaks coming from wall pipes will require more hard work since you have to pierce through the wall. But the right tool will make the task easy for you. Make sure that you have a drywall saw or a utility knife. If you have none, you can purchase it in the nearest store. Then draw a line using the knife in an area where the leak is detected. Around 10 inches is enough. Using a drywall saw, pierce through the line. The hole must be enough to fit your head so you can see the pipe when repairing the damaged part.

After that, make sure that you patch the wall nicely.

Then the work is done!

Conclusion: How To Find A Water Leak Inside a Wall

Problem solved!

You see, it wasn’t that hard.

But take note of this!

There are times when the leakage problem is too difficult to mend. And it wouldn’t hurt to call for a professional plumber.

But to prevent the water leak problem,

Here’s a thing to remember

Ensure that all of the materials used inside your home are of good quality.

After all, prevention is better than cure!

Ensure that all of the materials used inside your home are of good quality.

After all, prevention is better than cure!