Want to protect your home from water damage? In this article, we discuss how to find a water leak inside a wall so you can prevent a costly repair.

When leaks go undetected for a long time, they can cause substantial damage to your home and your belongings. From crumbling drywall and bubbling paint, to rotting flooring, to mold infestation, the problems that come with a leak inside the walls of your home can have serious, lasting consequences.

To discover and pinpoint a leak, follow these steps:

 

  1. Know the Signs of a Water Leak Inside a Wall

To locate and fix a leak inside your walls, you must first know that there is a leak to fix. Obvious signs of a leaking pipe located in the wall include standing water or wet carpeting near a wall and discoloration on the wall itself.

When excessive amounts of water accumulate within your walls, you may also notice a change in the wall’s texture. It may look like the paint or wallpaper on your drywall is bubbling or bulging. If your wall appears to bulge outward, that could be a sign of a major leak that needs to be addressed ASAP.

As is possible in any moist environment, if you have a leak inside your wall, you may notice the signs of mold. Mold can be harmful to breathe, so if you do notice mold growing on your walls, you should contact a professional.

  1. Keep an Eye on the Water Bill

A significant leak may lead to increases in your monthly water bill. If you know how much water you typically use every month, any increases that seem out of place could be a sign that you have a potential problem.

  1. Use a Moisture Meter to Locate the Leak

If you want to learn how to find a leak inside a wall, you may need to make a few purchases first. There are a lot of tools that homeowners can buy or rent to help detect a leak. One of these tools is the moisture meter. If you know the wall that has a leak inside it but not the exact location, take measurements in a few different places on the wall. The spots that read the highest are closest to the source of the leak.

  1. Locate the Leak with an Infrared Camera

Because moisture is cooler than the surrounding air and materials, you can also use an infrared camera to get an idea where a leak is coming from.

  1. Remove a Section of Drywall to Find the Leaking Pipe

Once you get a better read on where a leak is located, you can start removing drywall to start the repair process. Using a drywall saw, cut a large opening to put your head and a flashlight inside so you can look around for the leak.

4 Reasons You Might Have Water Leaking Behind Your Walls

A leaky pipe is one of the biggest stresses you can have in your home. This section will look at four common reasons for this, from corrosion to temperature changes. While leaks can be expensive to fix and cause damage to your home, if you take precautionary measures now and address any issues early on, you could avoid a lot of the headaches that come with water leaking behind your walls!

4 Common Reasons for Water Leaking from Your Plumbing

There are many reasons why plumbing could be leaking. Some of the most common reasons are corrosion, high water pressure, temperature changes, and a shifting foundation. If you notice that water is coming out of your pipes and you don’t know why, it’s important to shut off the water and contact a plumber as soon as possible before water damages your floors, walls, or ceilings.

1. Corrosion

When pipes are exposed to water and air, it can cause the metal to break down. When the metal gets too thin, it can easily spring a leak. If you have water leaking from a pipe, you need to examine your plumbing in various places to check for signs of corrosion. Sometimes plumbing needs to be replaced in large sections simultaneously, so if there is a leak in one place because of corrosion, you can bet that other piping sections will soon break down. To avoid an expensive disaster, get in touch with a plumber so they can inspect your pipes.

2. High water pressure

Sometimes, the high water pressure in your house can cause a leak in your plumbing. This often occurs when you live in an old home with pipes that aren’t adequate for the new water pressure. You may have noticed this problem because of water seeping from under the sink, running down the wall, or just dripping out of the faucet.

3. Temperature change

When water freezes, it expands. This expansion can create tiny cracks in the pipes, leading to leaks. When the temperature changes, your pipes might also need to adjust by expanding and contracting. If you notice a leak on your property during these times, the pipe is just adjusting to the temperature change. If this leak continues after you have let time pass or if there are other leaks inside your home, you may have a problem that requires professional help.

4. Shifts in your home’s foundation

Often, when your plumbing starts leaking, it’s because the ground around your home has shifted. This can happen because of heavy rains and years of wear and tear on the soil or if you have a pipe resting on newly settled soil. Shifts in the foundation may require extensive work to fix the problem.

What are the Causes of Moisture in Drywall?

The most common cause of drywall moisture is water seeping through the wall or ceiling installation. This water can come from the walls themselves or the ceiling above, and it can cause several problems. Furthermore, this process can lead to holes in the drywall, allowing moisture and other contaminants inside the wall. The same goes for water that seeps into the ceiling; it can cause damage to insulation and wiring, as well as the drywall itself. To avoid these problems, it’s essential to keep track of all changes in humidity levels.

How to Detect Moisture Behind Drywall

If you’re noticing water leaks behind drywall, there’s a good chance that moisture is the cause. Here are four ways to detect moisture behind drywall:

Check for Damaged Drywall

Moisture is likely behind the problem if you notice any signs of water damage or fraying in your drywall. To check for damage, start by feeling the wall for any dampness. Next, use a moisture meter to check the wall’s moisture level if it feels wet.

If the meter reads above 20%, moisture is present, and you’ll need to take steps to dry out the wall. If the meter reads below 20%, there may still be some moisture present, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the area for any further signs of damage.

Look for staining or discoloration of the wall.

Wall stains or discoloration can signify moisture behind the drywall. Another sign of water is if the wall feels warm or damp to the touch. 

Listen for Water Sounds

Several things can cause water sounds, but the most common is moisture. For example, if you hear strange noises from your walls, there may be too much moisture in the air. If you think you might have a moisture problem, consult a professional to get it sorted out.

Observe Signs of Wetness

Finally, one way to detect moisture behind drywall is by observing signs of wetness – like water droplets on the wall or floor or mildew growth.

5 Surprising Tools to Detect Moisture in Drywall

Do you ever need to drywall a room but have trouble finding the right tools? That is likely because there are so many tools available for this task. If you’re struggling to figure out what tools you should get, here’s a guide on five necessary tools on how to detect moisture behind drywall

1. Moisture meter

This tool uses light and sound sensors to detect air moisture levels.

2. Thermal camera

This camera uses infrared radiation to see through walls and ceilings. It is often used to inspect for water damage.

3. A vacuum cleaner with a wet/dry attachment

This attachment can be used to remove moisture from behind drywall. Using these tools can prevent damage to your home and protect your belongings.

4. A humidity meter 

It is the most accurate tool for detecting moisture behind drywall. But unfortunately, it is also the most expensive tool. 

5. A moisture tester 

It is less accurate than a humidity meter, but it is cheaper. Moreover, it can only measure the moisture level in the air.

Don’t Have Time to Learn How to Find a Water Leak Inside a Wall?

Don’t have time to learn how to find and fix a water leak inside a wall? Here at Custom Plumbing of Arizona, we’re ready and eager to help! We can get you fixed up so you can resume enjoying your home again.

Posted on Categories Blog, Leak Detection and Leak Locating, Water TreatmentTags , , ,

Looking for plumbers that handle slab leak detection in Phoenix? Custom Plumbing of Arizona specializes in this essential service. Here’s why we think you should hire a professional as soon as possible.

If you have ever experienced a slab leak, you know exactly how devastating it can be. If not, then you should know that not only can a slab leak under your home be financially devastating, but also it can be dangerous.

Not sure whether to hire someone to look for a potential slab leak in your home? Here’s why we think you should.

3 Reasons to Hire a Pro for Slab Leak Detection in Phoenix

Slab Leaks Need to Be Fixed ASAP

If your home has a slab leak, it needs to be fixed as quickly as possible. The longer you wait to address the problem, the more damage it can do to your foundation. The first step is detecting the leak, and that usually requires a professional plumber.

Professional Plumbers Have Access to Special Equipment

It is possible to determine whether you have a slab leak under your home, but most of the time, you are going to need some special tools to help with detection. Plumbers use special technologies like sonar and infrared to locate slab leaks. When you hire a plumber, you are not only getting their skills and experience—you also get access to equipment that helps make detection more accurate.

Professional Plumbers Can Tell You Why the Slab Leak Occurred

Perhaps the most important reason that you should hire a plumber to find your slab leak is that they can give you an accurate report on the underlying cause of the damage to your plumbing system. There is no single cause of slab leaks. Some are the result of settling soil underneath the house, which can put pressure on the pipes under the concrete slab. Others happen because of corrosive materials in the soil. Sometimes it comes down to faulty installation.

Whatever the cause of your slab leak, you need to understand exactly what caused it in the first place or it could happen again. Reinstalling metal pipes in corrosive soil is not a solution. Repairing pipes when the soil is still settling is not a solution. If you don’t know the underlying cause, you could be doomed to repeat a really expensive mistake.

Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: Have You Contacted a Professional Yet?

Do not wait another second to talk to a plumbing expert if you think that your home has a slab leak. The damage that could occur—and may have occurred already—could be extensive enough to make your home unsafe. At the very least, it could lead to the need for extensive foundation repairs.

Get in touch with the experts at Custom Plumbing of Arizona now if you have any questions. We are happy to answer them and guide you in the repair process.

Posted on Categories Residential Plumbing Services, Commercial Plumbing Service, Leak Detection and Leak Locating, Slab leakLeave a comment on Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional

Want to learn how to fix a concealed pipe water leak in your home before it damages your walls, ceilings, and floors? This article covers a few common scenarios that could arise.

Do you know how much it costs to replace a carpet? How about hardwood floors? Plaster or drywall ceiling and walls? What about some of the personal property you keep in your home, like books electronics?

If your plumbing has a slow leak that goes undetected for a while, you could be on the hook for all of this since many homeowners insurance policies do not cover maintenance issues. It could end up costing you thousands.

Are you interested in learning how to look for and fix some common concealed water leaks? You should be.

Common Concealed Pipe Water Leaks

Plumbing Leaks Inside Walls

Perhaps the most common type of concealed leak occurs in the pipes running behind a home’s walls. In the right conditions, pinhole leaks and small cracks form and drip water over a period of months before being detected. It is critical to watch for signs such as bulging or sagging drywall, the smell of mold, and the sound of running water.

Once you locate a possible concealed pipe water leak, you will have to open up part of your wall and trace the leak to its source on the pipe. From there, you should be able to patch the leak until you can replace the pipe.

Toilet Flange Leaks

Your toilet flange is the piece of equipment that connects the toilet fixture to the wastewater pipe below it. When the flange leaks, it can cause extensive damage to flooring and the ceiling below the toilet.

You may be able to see water seeping out at the base of the toilet, but also be on the lookout for loose or damaged floorboards or tiles and stains on the ceiling below the toilet. Once you identify the problem, you may need to take the toilet apart and reinstall it with a new flange or wax seal.

Sink Supply Line Leaks

Leaking supply lines under the sink is another common scenario. You should regularly inspect below each sink in your home to make sure that there is not dripping water. Take a dry paper towel and run it along the length of the supply lines to see if there is any moisture. If your paper towel is wet, you may need to replace the supply line.

Need a quick fix for your concealed pipe water leak?

If you suspect that your plumbing is leaking but you can’t tell where the water is coming from, you need to get in touch with a professional as soon as possible.

Want a fast fix? Get in touch with the plumbing experts at Custom Plumbing of Arizona. We will inspect your plumbing, locate the leak, and fix the problem so you can avoid extensive damages to your home and personal property.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Posted on Categories Residential Plumbing Services, Leak Detection and Leak LocatingLeave a comment on How to Find and Fix a Concealed Pipe Water Leak Before it Costs Thousands