Recognizing the Signs of a Hidden Leak

While a leaky faucet or running toilet are obvious plumbing problems that catch your attention immediately, plumbing leaks that occur in your sewer line or in the supply pipes and drains that run through your walls, ceilings, and floors can be more difficult to spot. Over time, however, these leaks can lead to water losses that amount to thousands of gallons each year, which not only wastes valuable resources, but also raises your monthly utility costs. Recognizing the signs of a hidden leak can provide vital warning that your plumbing needs attention and repair, helping you to reduce water waste and excessive water costs.

Water Damage

Water damage in your home or your yard should never be ignored, even when it appears minor. If you notice dark streaks on the walls or ceilings of your home, a musty smell that never seems to disappear, or areas of carpeting or tile that seem persistently wet, it likely means you have a hidden leak nearby. Water damage may also take the form of peeling wallpaper, bubbling paint, or warping wood features, such as windowsills and baseboards. Areas of standing water in your yard or isolated overgrowth of grass and landscaping can indicate a leak in your sewer line, which allows sewage to seep into the ground around your home.

Moisture Problems

A hidden leak can also cause the humidity to rise in your home, leading to problems associated with high humidity and subsequent moisture condensation. Frequent cycling of your air conditioning system and walls or ceilings that feel damp to the touch could be a sign of a hidden leak. Additionally, the standing water left behind by some leaks can attract mold and pests to your home—if you’ve dealt with pest or mold remediation in the recent past, it’s also a good idea to have your home inspected by your plumber for leaks that could have caused the problem in the first place.

High Water Bills

Your water bill can also serve as a secondary indicator of a hidden household leak. While water use is expected to fluctuate throughout the year, consistently higher-than-expected water bills, especially during the winter, are a likely sign of one or more hidden leaks running up your home’s water usage on your meter. One of the simplest ways to determine whether your water bill is reasonably higher than in the past is to compare your water usage with the same month in previous years. If the amount of water used is significantly higher than it was in the past, it’s time to call your plumber for a home plumbing evaluation.

Low Water Pressure

Unexplained drops in water pressure may also be associated with hidden plumbing leaks as some of the water traveling to your appliances and fixtures through your supply pipes is lost. Especially as your plumbing ages, deteriorating pipes and connections can cause an increasing amount of water loss throughout your home. Although temporary water pressure changes may originate with your water provider, a drop in water pressure that persists for days or weeks is more likely due to a leak and should be cause to call your plumber.

Anytime you have questions or concerns about your plumbing system’s performance, it’s time to call your plumber serving Utah County for help. We can arrive quickly and perform a thorough home evaluation to find and solve the cause of your problem properly the first time. You can check us out online to learn more about our comprehensive home plumbing services or scroll through our blog for more great articles and tips.