The Silent Threat: How to Detect and Prevent Hidden Water Leaks

While your family sleeps at night, water damage could be spreading beneath your flooring and behind your appliances. Inside your walls, creeping water damage could be growing as mold blossoms. 

Unfortunately, this type of situation is incredibly common in American homes. When homeowners don’t detect water leaks early, they can transform into expensive repairs, extensive mold growth, wasted water, and serious structural damage.

To avoid leaks and water damage, we’ve compiled a guide on how to detect water leaks early and prevent them from happening. We’ll look at the common locations, frequent warning signs, and when you should reach out to a professional.

For professional inspections and high-quality repairs, reach out to your trusted local experts at Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical.

Why Hidden Water Leaks Are So Dangerous 

Hidden leaks will never remain hidden for long. Over time, they can lead to the following issues.

• Extensive Damage: A small leak can cause extensive damage to your drywall, ceilings, insulation, and flooring.
• Mold and Mildew: Whenever water is present, it can result in mold growth. Besides causing damage, this can cause health problems for your home’s occupants.
• Skyrocketing Water Bills: A leak uses extra water, which can quickly add up to thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year.
• Structural Integrity: Long-term water damage can harm the structure of your home.
• Pest Infestations: If you have damp, dark spaces, it can attract cockroaches and termites to your home. 

Common Locations for Hidden Water Leaks 

To detect water leaks, check the following common locations. 

• Behind Walls: Look for leaky pipes behind your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room walls.
• Under Floors: Slab leaks and leaks under your floors can be challenging to see because of their location.
• Attics and Ceilings: Faulty HVAC condensate lines, plumbing problems, and leaky roofs can cause ceiling stains. 
• Basements and Crawlspaces: These areas can develop leaks due to main water lines, sump pump discharge lines, water heaters, and washing machine hoses.
• Near Appliances: You may experience leaks near your water heater, washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker line, and other appliances that use water.
• Outdoors and Underground: Leaks can occur in your main water line and sprinkler system.

Key Warning Signs to Help Detect Water Leaks 

There are a few common indications that you may have a water leak. If you are uncertain, reach out to our team of licensed plumbers for a professional inspection.

Unexplained Spike in Water Bill

Often, a spike in your water bill is the first sign of a leak. If your water bill is significantly different from what it was during the same month last year, you need to schedule an inspection.

Visible Water Stains, Discoloration, or Peeling Paint

Pay attention to yellow, brown, or dark spots on your walls, ceilings, and floors. Additionally, pay attention to cracking, bubbling, or peeling paint or wallpaper.

Musty Odors or Mold Growth

Dampness or mold odors are a sign that hidden moisture is present. You may also notice black or green mold spots on your baseboards and walls.

Changes in Flooring

If your flooring warps or tiles become loose, it may be due to water leaks.

Reduced Water Pressure

A sudden decline in your water pressure could mean that there is a leak in your home’s main supply line.

Sound of Running Water When No Fixtures Are On

If you hear the sound of running or dripping water when every appliance and faucet is off, there may be a leak.

Foundation Cracks or Shifting

A shifting foundation and foundation cracks can occur if slab leaks make your home settle unevenly.

Warm Spots on Floors

A leak in a hot water pipe can cause a warm area to develop on your floor.

DIY Methods To Detect Water Leaks 

If you think that your home may have a leak, there are a few leak detection tips you can use to find and confirm the leak.

The Water Meter Test

For this method, you should turn off every appliance and faucet in your home that uses water. Then, check the reading on your water meter. In 30 minutes, check the meter again. If the number has changed, you likely have a leak.

Toilet Dye Test

To see if your flapper valve is leaking, add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank. Wait 15 to 30 minutes. If any colored water appears in the toilet bowl, you need to replace the flapper valve.

Exterior Inspection

For underground and slab leaks, walk around the outside of your home. Pay attention to lush patches of grass, wet areas, and depressions in your yard.

Visual Appliance Check

You can also visually check out your washing machine, ice maker, water heater, and dishwasher for corrosion, puddles, and any signs of moisture.

Professional Leak Detection & Repair 

You should reach out to Elkhorn if you have a leak you can’t repair. In particular, give us a call for slab, sewer line, and main water line leaks. We can help you diagnose the underlying cause of mold growth and repair complex leaks.

At Elkhorn, we assist homeowners in the Denver metro area through the following tools and techniques.

• Acoustic Leak Detectors: Our leak detectors can hear the sound of leaks underground and inside of walls.
• Thermal Imaging Cameras: These cameras reveal hidden sources of moisture by detecting the temperature differences caused by water.
• Video Camera Inspections: Our video cameras can look inside of water pipes and sewer lines to find leaks.
• Pressure Testing: These tools allow us to pinpoint leaks by checking water pressure in specific sections of plumbing.

Once we’ve pinpointed the leak, we can perform specialized repairs, such as re-piping services, slab leak repairs, and main water line replacements. Then, we can recommend the best techniques for preventing leaks in the future. Thanks to our cutting-edge technology, our licensed plumbers can deliver lasting solutions for your home.

Prevention Strategies: Minimizing Your Risk 

To prevent future leaks from happening, we recommend performing the following leak prevention strategies.

• Schedule regular plumbing maintenance with our professional plumbers.
• Insulate pipes in unheated areas.
• Replace your old or worn-out appliance hoses.
• Pay attention to sudden spikes in your water bills.

Repair Your Hidden Water Leaks

While hidden water leaks pose a major threat to your home, you can detect water leaks by being vigilant and proactive. If you notice any signs of a leak, reach out to Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical immediately for a professional inspection and repairs in the Denver metro area.

Call today to protect your home from water damage!