Detecting a Plumbing Leak in a Wall

Leaks are not always so obvious to detect.

Plumbing leaks are destructive for a number of reasons. They weaken the structural integrity of your walls and ceilings, and they also encourage the growth of mold and mildew that endanger your health. Leaks are sometimes expensive to repair, but the sooner a leak is discovered, the more damage that is potentially prevented. Detecting a plumbing leak in a wall requires close observation, but the process saves you a lot of time and money down the road if you find the leak before it worsens.

Instructions

1. Examine the walls regularly for cracks. Water buildup inside a wall often causes both drywall and concrete walls to crack due to pressure and structural weakening.

2. Search for discoloration in the wall or the floor and ceiling connected to the wall. Drywall often turns brown or black gradually as an internal leak gets worse, and mildew stains are often brown, black or pink. Mold requires moisture to grow, so seeing it indicates that a leak is likely.

3. Smell the air near the wall. Mildew may be growing inside the wall and you can't see it yet. However, you'll likely still be able to smell a mustiness in the air that indicates a leak problem.

4. Listen for the sound of running water. A serious leak causes a trickle or dripping sound that is sometimes detected from outside the wall if you listen closely.

Tips & Warnings

• The source of the leak may not be in the wall itself but rather a pipe from a nearby bathroom or sink that is dripping into the wall.

• Thermal imaging sometimes helps you find a leak source.

References

• Home Addition Plus: Finding a Small Water Leak in a Wall
• How to Find a Leak: Leak in Plumbing Behind Wall
• Plumbing Specialists, Inc.: Water Leaks