Table Of Contents
Wall Water Leak Detection
Several things could go wrong when the last finishing touch has been added to a building. Unfortunately, a significant amount of work may have been carried out at this point, and working to discover what went wrong may take a long time, in which case some severe damage may have occurred.
One error that may occur in building construction or remodelling is when a water leak is inside a wall. This can lead to severe complications if prompt or adequate attention is not given to the situation. Leaky pipes within walls can be pretty challenging to remedy.
There is no way to tell when it started; you cannot hear it when it starts and will not know it is happening until it is too late. Severe damage can occur to sheetrock, affecting the ceiling and the floor. When there is a slow water leak within your home's walls, the situation will most likely lead to a damp environment. This dampness can lead to the breeding of mould and the rotting of wood.
Detecting A Water Leak Behind A Wall Early On
There are usually tell-tale signs of a water leak when one is inclined enough to find them. These signs will tell you what is happening behind the walls. These signs can also help you stay ahead of repairs that are necessary for you to make in the house. A blocked drain or frozen pipe can lead to severe complications. If this happens to you, find the source of the problem.
Provide prompt care and repairs to nick the situation in the bud. Your ability to identify a water leak, should there be any in your walls, is very important as this can help minimise the damage. You must be vigilant and look for these water leakage signs on your drywall if you have any reason to worry about water leak issues.
Damp odour
Sheetrock and flooring will stay damp when water drips slowly from leaking pipes in any wall in your house. There will be a characteristic odour similar to that of wet cardboard. The musty smell you pick up can be traced to hidden water pipe leaks within your wall. Since most structural materials can retain water the same way a sponge does, the smell can be a sure sign there are leaks behind your walls.
Mould in the least expected places
It is not uncommon to find mould growing in wet areas or places such as the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. If you discover mould on baseboards or walls of rooms within the house, this is a sign that water is leaking inside the wall. If you find patches of mould that are larger than a few square feet, call a restoration company that can offer you mould removal and remediation.
Gradually expanding stains
The mould growth occurs mainly on the inside surface of the house. This is when there is an uninhibited growth around a leaking water pipe. Clean sheetrock that is beginning to show a growing stain is usually an indication of a hidden plumbing issue behind the house's walls.
Peeling or bubbling wall paint
This sign is often subtle and can be easily missed in rooms that are not used much. When you notice that wallpapers are getting separated easily, especially along their seams, paint bubbling, or flaking off of the coat of paint on the wall, it is almost certain that there is a plumbing leak inside the wall.
Warping sheetrock
A leak inside the wall of a house can make the sheetrock gather moisture, causing them to bend or curve. Warped sheetrock is a sure sign of water leaking from a pipe within the wall. A sag or outward curve in a wall could be caused by wetness and is a sign of structural damage. This can lead to drywall saturation, buckling, and eventually, total collapse of your wall.
Stained floors and buckling ceilings
Visible structural issues in the ceilings or floors in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry areas indicate dampness within the walls. Wet sheetrock within a wall can affect adjacent flooring, framing, and ceilings.
Wet imperfections on the walls
Wet spots and imperfections on the wall signify that water damage has occurred to the walls. The unfortunate thing is that there isn't a guarantee that you can pinpoint the location of the leakage through them. Water can run down a pipe and eventually cause wet blotches on the wall beneath the leaking pipe.
Discoloured patches on the wall
Sometimes leaks progress further inside a wall. Wet spots that have been overlooked will eventually dry up, leaving behind splotches that look as though they are lighter than the surrounding wallpaper or drywall.
Wet floors
This is often an obvious sign seen on kitchen floors, although it is not easily noticed in carpeted rooms. If a carpeted area next to a wall looks darker and damp to the touch, you probably have a leak someplace behind the wall. Wet flooring that feels warm under your feet results from hot water pipes that leak from within the walls.
Dripping water sounds
Water running down inside your walls often makes a dripping sound. Usually, you will hear a plinking noise that comes after you have turned off a faucet in the shower, tub, or sink. You may also detect audible clues anytime you flush the toilet.
Damp window sills
Damp window frames and sills can be a clue to a leaking pipe inside the wall. The downward movement of water from a leak usually forms a pool at the frame edges, undersides, and sill surfaces.
Unusual water bills
A remarkable difference in your monthly water bill is a red flag and can be a water leak detection sign. Research has shown that a single person uses over 80 gallons (302.8 Litres) of water each day. Most families need about 300 gallons (1135.6 Litres) per day. These numbers can increase significantly with a wall leak, causing a spike in the expected monthly water bill.
Consequences Of Water Leaks In A Wall
It is essential to detect water leaks on time anywhere they pop up to avoid damage that may occur because of deteriorating plumbing systems. The following are consequences of water leaks in a wall.
• Structural instability due to rotting wood framing.
• The indoor air quality becomes compromised when mould grows on wet walls.
• The dampness that results from water leaks inside walls creates a good breeding place for pests such as termites, silverfish, and cockroaches.
How To Confirm A Water Leak In A Wall
Detecting water leaks in walls does not have to be a difficult task. You can accomplish this through simple investigative work. Using a water meter, you can determine whether your suspicions about a hidden leak are true. If you find that the meter is running yet your taps are closed, it might be an indication that there is, in fact, a leak!
Use a meter to test for a leak by following these steps:
• Ensure that all appliances and faucets within the building are turned off.
• If you have a water meter in your home, it may be time to have a look at it and check the usage numbers.
• Avoid running water both outside and inside the building for at least three hours.
• Check with the water meter again to see if there are any changes in consumption.
• An increasing readout can mean there is water leakage somewhere in the walls of the building.
Tools For Detecting Water Leaks In Walls
Breaking drywall to locate a water leak within it may not necessarily provide solutions to the issue at hand. If water is dripping many feet (metres) above the wet spot, cut off the guesswork by making use of the following leak-detection tools:
Moisture meter
This meter helps you analyse the moisture content in any type of material. You can locate the water leak within a wall by simply placing the meter against it. You can move it around for more effective device use and check about four to five different spots. You can reasonably conclude that the spot that gives you the highest reading is the closest to the hidden leak.
Infrared camera
You can use an infrared camera for the detection of moisture inside walls. It makes use of an optical system that is capable of measuring infrared energy as well as surface temperature. Moving the camera along an area suspected to be hiding the leak can help you pinpoint the location of the water leaking inside the wall.
Steps To Prevent Hidden Wall Leaks
As far as remediation and handling of repairs with leaky plumbing works are concerned, call on a restoration professional to handle things for you. Below are some crucial steps you should consider taking so that you may minimise damage from wall leaks.
Ensure gutters are clear
The first step to fixing a wall that is leaking from rainwater could be by ensuring to clean out the gutters. When gutters become clogged up, they tend to spill out during heavy rainfalls. This, in turn, can affect your home's exterior because water will begin to seep right into the walls of the building.
Check the roof
Water leaking in your wall can also signify roof issues that have been neglected for a long time. If you notice any possible leaks, it's time to get an expert to inspect and fix any existing problems. Don't wait for problems to crop up for you to inspect your roof. Check your roof regularly and include the exercise as part of the prevention plans you have in place against wall leaks.
Replace old insulation
Insulation installed in the walls of your home is meant to protect the plumbing from freezing during cold weather. When you upgrade older insulation, that should reduce the risks of leaks from frozen burst pipes within the walls.
Hire A Certified Home Restoration Company
Rent from home improvement centres if you do not have any of these water leak detection tools. You should be able to detect water leaks within the wall of your house with either one of these tools. In the same vein, you can hire a certified home restoration company to look at your house to detect hidden wall leaks and offer the right solution where there are complicated issues with the general plumbing of the house. This route is not only faster, but it will save you some money in the long run.
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