Even a small water leak can cause significant damage and expensive repairs, given enough time. Hidden water leaks are more damaging than obvious ones, because they may go for long periods of time before you even realize there is a problem. However, if you pay attention to your home, it will give you clues that there is a hidden water leak that needs to be repaired. If your home has noticeable water damage, you will need a reputable water damage cleanup crew.

5 Signs of a Hidden Water Leak: You can check for hidden leaks behind or underneath sinks, showers and washing machines. Look for yellowing around the top of your walls and ceilings, cracks in the drywall, or outside under your home. These are all signs of a leaky pipe!

1. Unusually High Water Bills

Your water bill may be your first clue that there’s a hidden water leak somewhere in your home. Compare your last three months’ water bills to the same three months last year. If your water usage has increased significantly without a reasonable explanation, look through your home for other hidden water leak signs.

2. Water Meter Runs, Even When the Water is Off

If you suspect a water leak, check your water meter. Choose a time when no one is home, or will not be using any water. Use a piece of chalk to mark the indicator on your meter. Wait an hour, then come back and check the meter again. The indicator should not have moved. If it did, you may have a water leak somewhere in your home.

3. Hear Water Running

Choose a quiet time when no one is using any water. Walk through your home silently and listen. If you hear the sound of water running through the pipes, you may have a hidden leak somewhere in your home.

4. Musty, Damp Smell

If you notice a lingering musty odor every time you enter your home, that’s a good sign that there is standing water somewhere. Thoroughly clean bathrooms and the kitchen – especially under the sink – looking for unexplained moisture. If the damp odor returns quickly after you’ve cleaned, you may have a hidden water leak.

5. Discolored or Sagging Walls, Ceilings, or Floors

Bulging ceilings, spongy floors, and stained walls are all definite signs of water damage. Investigate the area for the source of the water. If you can’t find an obvious source, the pipes inside the walls may be leaking.

What to Do if You Have a Hidden Water Leak

If you’ve found two or more of these signs of hidden water leakage in your home, it’s time to call a plumber. They will be able to identify and fix the water leak. If you have water damage, such as mold or mildew, or damaged, sagging walls, you also need a water damage restoration team. They are experts in restoring water damaged homes, and will be able to safely and thoroughly remove hazardous mold and mildew. Once the damaged materials have been removed, they will repair the walls, floors, ceilings, and other damaged areas.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.