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How to Tell If Your Home Has a Leak

Posted on December 22, 2017 in Seasonal Home Tips

repair experts

Think you may have a leak in your house? They can be difficult to track down and many times, you won’t know you have one until you see the physical effects of it. Here are some things our repair experts suggest looking for:

Paint Problems

Inspect your paint for water lines (flat paint will show these better than gloss) and areas of sagging. Also look for discoloration, bubbling, and peeling.

Caulk can also give away water damage – look for broken caulk lines on your trim. When the wood gets wet, it expands and your caulk is likely to crack under the expansion.

Utilities

Compare your current and past water bills. If you’ve been using the same amount of water, but your bill is higher, you may have a leak.

Check your water meter when you know no one is going to be using the water for a few hours. Then check it again. If it’s gone down, you probably have a leak.

Mold/Mildew

Mold and mildew can only grow when there’s moisture, so if you find either of these (or you smell an odor of dampness/mustiness), check the surrounding area for water. In the issue of mold or mildew, you’ll want to take care of the water problem quickly because their growth can cause health problems.

Crumbling Areas

Inspect your molding, baseboards, and the areas around your windows. Our repair experts say if you see crumbling wood, there’s a good chance that water infiltration is causing the wood to fall apart.

Listening

Listening for the leak is always worth a try. Wait until it starts to rain, then turn off everything possible in your house (your HVAC system, laundry machines, televisions, etc.) and listen closely in the areas you think you may have a leak. If you hear water, you’ve hit the jackpot!

If all else fails and you’re still not sure if you have a leak, you can buy a moisture meter. It will give you a reading of the moisture content found in your wood, concrete, and other building materials.

Once you find your leak, and depending on where it is, you may be able to fix it yourself. If you can’t, however, our repair experts are always here to help. Give us a call today.