
Water Leak Repair
A slow leak causes less drama than a burst pipe, but left alone it does just as much damage over time, plus the mold risk that comes with humidity sitting in a wall for weeks.
When this becomes an emergency
- A water bill that's crept up gradually over a couple of billing cycles.
- A musty smell in one room with no obvious source.
- A soft or discolored spot on a wall, ceiling, or baseboard.
- The water meter still ticking slowly with everything in the house off.
What a pro does
A leak that isn't obvious yet, no puddle, no dramatic flow, usually gets found by process of elimination rather than a single obvious clue. A plumber typically starts at the water meter, checking whether it's still moving with every fixture in the house off, which confirms there's an active leak somewhere on the property before spending time looking for it. From there, isolating supply lines to different sections of the house, one at a time, narrows down which zone the leak's actually in. Humidity and heat do a lot of the damage here once a leak's gone unnoticed for a while, since the combination speeds up mold growth behind a wall or under a cabinet faster than a drier climate would see. Outdoor lines, especially older irrigation systems or a line running to a detached structure, are worth checking too, since a leak underground can run for weeks without ever showing up as a wet spot on the surface.
Frequently asked questions
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