How to Sort Out Leaks Beneath the Walls
How to sort out leaks beneath the walls. When water leaks beneath your walls, it can cause damage to the property. In addition, it can lead to mold and mildew. To avoid this, you should act promptly when you see a watermark on the wall. However, identifying the source of the leak isn’t always easy. A moisture meter or infrared camera may help.
1. Check the Water Meter
After a long day at work, you walk into your home to settle for the evening. You glance around and notice a watermark on your wall that wasn’t there before.
Water leaks behind walls can be highly damaging and costly if not dealt with quickly. They cause structural damage to walls and sheetrock and create a breeding ground for mold.
If you suspect a leak, start by checking your water meter. Ensure all faucets and appliances are turned off, and then reread the usage numbers on your meter. If there is an increase in consumption, you probably leak your walls. A professional plumber will also use a moisture meter or infrared camera to find the location of hidden leaks.
2. Check the Faucets
While dripping sounds behind the walls don’t always indicate leaks, the sound of endless dripping is a warning sign that something may be wrong. In addition, water dripping is annoying and damaging to your home’s pipes and structural integrity.
To locate the source of the leaks, it is crucial to shut off all of the water in your house — including running faucets, showers, and washing machines. You should then read your water meter and record the numbers. After a few hours, recheck the water meter; if the number has changed, this could indicate a leak in your home’s plumbing. If this is the case, you can turn off your faucets and listen to dripping or hissing sounds within the walls.
3. Check the Pipes/How to sort out leaks beneath the walls
Water leaks inside walls can damage drywall, swell and warp wood framing, stain floors, and ceilings, and contribute to health and structural problems. They also drive up water bills, which may be more difficult to notice than a dripping faucet.
Water seeps into drywall, creating a damp area that can lead to mold and mildew. These stains are often the first sign of hidden plumbing leaks.
The next step is using a moisture meter or an infrared camera to locate the leak. Turn off all the faucets and appliances in your home, then check the water meter reading. Wait several hours, then recheck the meter to ensure it hasn’t changed. This test is pretty straightforward but invasive. Plumbers usually only take this step as a last resort.
4. Look for Water Stains
The easiest way to identify a hidden leak is to look for water stains or other discoloration on your walls and ceilings. Wet areas will cause paint or wallpaper to peel and bubble, and excessive moisture can cause the drywall behind the wall to bend and warp.
Leaks may also appear as wet spots on your floor, especially around areas of your home that use water, such as your washing machine or kitchen sink. Alternatively, you can look for puddles of water that form near your walls.
These stains are often caused by mineral deposits from the leaking water, which can leave dry, discolored surface marks. However, finding the leak’s origin isn’t always easy and can require removing sections of your wall to see what’s going on.
5. Look for Mold/How to sort out leaks beneath the walls
Moisture is the ideal environment for mold to thrive. The wall decay is a sure sign of a water leak behind the wall.
Look for spots of discoloration on the walls or base molding. These may appear as stains or black dots. In some cases, the colors may appear more widespread. If you notice that family members are experiencing unexplained respiratory issues, mold in the walls could be to blame.
A damp, musty odor is also indicative of hidden water damage. If you suspect mold is growing inside your walls, shut off power at the breaker box and cut open a 6″ by 6″ square in the affected wall area. Use a moisture meter to test the humidity level inside the wall before you make any further cuts.
