Nothing is more frustrating for a homeowner than a water leak or throwing away water damaged property. When it comes to owning a home, it is important to strike a balance between maintaining its quality and minimizing the expenses involved in its upkeep. Regardless of the size, age, or location of your home, having a water leak can put a monkey wrench into your plans. If you think there’s a water leak in your home, here are signs you may notice.
1. Water Stains on the Walls or Ceilings
Water stains on the walls or ceilings are the most common sign of a water leak. Water stains are yellow or brown. While these stains start as small marks on walls or ceilings, they can expand if the leak continues. Your drywall can become soft and soggy, and you may notice bubbles on the surface, which will warp and break apart.
2. Insanely High Water Bills
If there’s a water leak in your home, one sure way to tell is if your water bills are unusually high. Mostly, your water bills should be consistent if the water usage in your home remains steady. You may notice a slight increase in your water bill if you started using a sprinkler system, but it wouldn’t be astronomically high like it would be if there was a water leak.
3. Cracks in Buckling or Foundation, and Leaning Walls
The continuous seepage of water into your home’s foundation can eventually cause the structure to buckle, crack, or shift out of place, resulting in additional issues with the foundation. When the foundation cracks or shifts out of place, you may notice that your basement walls are leaning or the moldings and trim are displaced.
Even the tiniest crack in your home’s foundation can develop into a major crack in a short time, so it’s best to call a professional plumber urgently to prevent further damage. We at Bumble Bee Plumbing can determine the cause of the water leak and make the repairs before the leak causes extensive damage.
4. Musty or Strange Odors
Do you notice a musty smell in your home that seems to have come out of nowhere, even after cleaning? That musty, earthy smell that can’t be mistaken for any other smell. This odor can be a sign that you have a water leak that’s inside a crawlspace, in the walls, basement, under sinks, or attic.
Even if you can’t visually notice water stains on any surface in your home, this odor is a clue that there’s a leak. Excess moisture in a dark location is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, which causes the musty or unusual odor. Don’t mask the odor with tons of air fresheners or cleaning products. Call a professional plumber to address the issue.
5. Wet Spots
Most water leaks that occur indoors flow to the floor, creating wet spots or moisture on floors and carpets. Moisture and wet spots frequently appear on baseboards and trim. It’s in your best interest to hire an experienced plumber to locate the source of the leak as soon as possible. Neglecting this issue can lead to severe water damage and mildew and mold growth.
6. Flaking Paint
If you have a water leak that occurs behind walls, water can collect under the paint, causing the paint to flake or wallpaper to bubble. Many minerals in water can cause dark spots to form or discolor the paint. As water collects on the wall, the wood may swell, warp, rot, or crack, causing your home’s structure to weaken.
7. Mold Growth
You can expect mold growth if you have a water leak, especially in dark areas, such as under the flooring and pipes that are in the walls. Mold is fuzzy with black or green spots. Having mold in your home is a health hazard, as it can cause serious health issues, such as respiratory problems. Less serious reactions to mold can include watery or itchy eyes and wheezing.
Once a water leak occurs, it only takes 24-48 hours for mold to develop and thrive. When left unattended, mold can rapidly spread through crawlspaces, ductwork, walls, and other places in your home, disrupting the indoor air quality.
8. Wood Rot and Termite Activity
Termites, like other wood-destroying insects, are attracted to rotting, damp wood. As moisture penetrates the wood, it becomes soft, making it easier for termites and similar insects to burrow into and eat. Termite tunnels, sawdust piles, and shed insect wings are all signs of a termite problem and a sign that moisture, perhaps because of a water leak, is causing wood rot.
9. Sounds of Water Dripping Behind the Walls
Under normal circumstances, plumbing pipes, and drain lines should remain dry on the outside when no fixtures or appliances are in use. If you have a water leak, you may hear water dripping or flowing from behind the wall, showing there is a leak within that space. Depending on your individual circumstances, it is possible that you might observe the sound of water dripping at certain times of the day or night, or even experience water flow or leakage. The bigger the leak, the louder and more apparent the dripping sounds will be.
10. Bathtub Stains
A few common visible signs you may notice if you have a water leak are stains around the base of the toilet, shower, and bathtubs. These stains often appear where the silicone caulk seals the base of these items. The silicone caulk may deteriorate, allowing moisture to seep in from behind the walls. Look out for pooling water post-shower, a sign of a leak.
11. Continuously Running Water Meter
A water meter measures your home’s water usage when an appliance or fixture is in use. When you aren’t using appliances or fixtures, the meter should remain at its current meter reading.
If you suspect a leak, check your water meter before and after a 3-hour time frame when you aren’t running any appliances or fixtures that require water to operate. If the reading increases within the time frame, it’s likely you have an underground leak in your pipes or service line that needs repair.
12. Reduced Water Pressure
Reduced water pressure is another common sign of a water leak. The pipes that are connected to your home acts like a network. If no leaks or obstructions are present, the network of pipes can supply water to your home at a standard pressure. However, if there is a water leak caused by a hole, crack, or other type of damage, water won’t be able to flow smoothly through the pipes and a lot of the water will escape through the damages in the pipe.
Here at Bumble Bee Plumbing, we take satisfaction in the plumbing services we provide. Besides leak detection, we also offer water heater, drain, and standard kitchen, bathroom, and other home improvement plumbing services. Contact us today to learn more about our plumbing services and how we can help preserve and protect your home from water leaks.
