A plumbing leak can cause a variety of issues in your home, including indoor flooding, mold buildups, and property damage. It’s more difficult when a leak is hidden, as it could go unnoticed for several months, causing even further damage. The guide below offers a closer look at how to approach hidden leak detection.

4 Signs of Hidden Plumbing Leaks

1. Mold & Mildew 

Mold and mildew tend to thrive in moist, dark areas of the home. These harmful microbes are often gray or black in color, and they have a somewhat fuzzy appearance. If you see them on the walls outside of the bathroom or in cabinets underneath the sink, you may have a leak. Hire a plumber for repairs and a mold remediation team to safely remove the buildups. Cleaning them on your own can cause serious health problems.

2. High Meter Readings

Check your water meter reading from time to time. In some cases, plumbing leaks show no discernible symptoms, but if your meter reading suddenly skyrockets, you’ll know there’s an issue somewhere on your property.

Open the concrete box in front of your house near the road to access the meter. You’ll notice numbers toward the top of the meter’s face, which represent the total number of gallons your property has used. If you monitor this number each month, you can quickly discern the presence of a leak.

3. Unpleasant Odors

Leaky plumbing causes mold and mildew buildups, which often have a musty odor. This is most apparent in kitchens, bathrooms, and utility areas. In the event of sewage pipe leaks, you may smell toxic waste in your bathrooms. If you notice unpleasant aromas in these places, hire a professional for leak detection and repairs.

4. Elevated Utility Bills

If your utility bills suddenly rise for no apparent reason, take a closer look at the itemized expenses. You should see your water fees listed separately. If they are significantly higher than the previous month, you likely have a hidden leak driving up your bills.

As soon as you suspect a leak, contact the team at A-1 Tri-County Plumbing. They offer leak detection, inspections, and repairs to clients throughout Seguin, TX. Call these emergency plumbers at (512) 353-8656 to book an appointment, and visit their website to learn more about their residential and commercial plumbing services.