How To Find A Water Leak Inside A Wall
Poor plumbing can lead to water pipe leaks inside the walls. But, it’s not so easy to detect a leaking pipe inside the walls. So, you have to look for some visible signs.
Usually, old houses often have damp walls. But, when a pipe inside your wall leaks, it would reflect a more apparent sign.
Whatever be the cause of this water leak, you must repair it quickly. Otherwise, the leaking water can damage your walls extensively. As a result, you may have to spend a huge amount to repair your walls. Hence, read the below tips and find out – how to detect a water leak inside a wall!
How To Find A Water Leak Inside A Wall
1) Wet Areas On The Wall
The first sign of a leaking pipe is a sweaty wall. In reality, concrete walls can’t soak water for a long time. Hence, if a water pipe leaks, you can see wet sections on your wall. Some people think that it’s a faucet leakage or a pipe joint leakage. But, you shouldn’t neglect this problem. You should examine the problem closely.
2) Discolored Sections On The wall
A painted wall can’t withstand water. Concrete walls and wood walls both have water-based paints on them. As a result, the paint begins to fade after coming in contact with the (leaked) water. For the first few days, the paint may absorb moisture. But, excessive moisture can affect the paint and the paint may peel off the wall.
3) Mold Growth
Mold will never grow without moisture. Mold loves wet areas. So, only a water source can cause mold formation. A water pipe leakage inside your walls can make your walls wet. So, if you see mold on a wall, then a water leakage may have happened. Hence, mold formation may give you a clue about a water leakage inside your wall.
4) Hefty Water Bill
An unexpected water bill can also be an indication that you have a pipe leakage inside walls. Though, a high water bill doesn’t always point to leaking pipes. But, if you have no clear reason for a hefty water bill, then your house may have hidden leaks. So, find out – why your water bill is high?
5) Wet Floor
Sometimes you may see that the corners of your floor are wet. Furthermore, you may notice dripping water from your walls. If your walls have a hollow section inside them, then you can also hear leaking water sounds. Therefore, try to search for the source of this dripping water.
6) Musty Smell
Water leakages can also be detected by smell. A water pipe leakage inside your wall may create a musty smell. Mold or mildew causes this musty smell. Even, stagnant water can also create this smell. So, if you smell something musty, then your walls may have a pipe leakage inside them.
Why Water Pipes Leak?
1) Pipe Bursts
Extreme temperature drops can freeze water inside the pipes. Now, when water freezes it expands. That’s why extremely cold temperatures can burst our water pipe and the pipes can leak.
2) Old Pipes
Old pipes become fragile. They can’t hold the water pressure inside them. Hence, old pipes tend to leak. Metal pipes may live longer than plastic pipes.
3) Poor Plumbing
Some plumbers don’t know anything about plumbing. So, they place pipes in the wrong positions inside your walls. Consequently, the pipes face the excessive pressure of the wall. This pressure breaks the pipes and the pipes leak.
4) Hard Water
Hard water can damage metal pipes. In reality, hard water contains minerals. This mineral build-up inside the metal water pipes can corrode them. Thus, the pipes leak.
5) Low-Quality Water Pipes
Some plumbers use low-quality water pipes. As a result, the pipes leak quickly within some years. That’s why people use high-quality PEX pipes or PVC pipes.
How Professional Plumbers Will Detect Your Leaking Water Pipe
Suspecting a pipe leakage may not be a difficult task. But, detecting a leak inside your wall is a really tough job. If you don’t have the proper equipment, then you can’t detect a leak. So, you should take the help of professionals. They have the right tools and they know the right process.
1) A Moisture Meter
Professionals use a moisture meter to know the exact location of the water leakage. A moisture meter can scan your wall and it can tell – which area has the highest amount of moisture! Thus, professionals detect a leak inside a wall.
2) Infrared Camera
An Infrared camera can sense heat. So, the camera can tell the difference between cold and warm areas on your walls. Water leakages can make your wall wet. Naturally, a particular section will be colder than the rest of the wall. In this way, infrared cameras can detect water leakage using thermal imaging.
3) Breaking or Cutting Your Wall
The last step is to cut open your wall to repair the leak. Professionals will break your concrete wall or they will cut open your drywall. Then, they will inspect the actual reason behind the water leakage.
The Repairing Process
1) Minor or Partial Repair
A professional team will detect – whether it’s a minor leakage or a major one! If it’s a minor leak, then they can patch the particular section. They can also replace the leaking pipe.
2) Full Repair
Sometimes your entire plumbing system becomes old. In that case, professionals may repair your entire plumbing system. All the water pipes will be replaced. Thus, you will get new pipes and there won’t be any possibility of leaks.
After repairing your water pipe, you should repair your wall. You can call a home restoration contractor to repair your wall. Because a plumber may not provide restoration services.
Detecting a leak inside your walls on time is truly important. If you neglect these leakages, your walls may get damaged. Even, some wood walls may start to rot. The water pressure will decrease over time and your house will be full of a musty smell. So, follow the above tips and detect a water leak inside a wall.