You’re most likely to see wet flooring near major appliances that use water (washing machine, dishwasher) or in the bathroom near the sink, toilet, or shower.
The shape of the discoloration is likely to be irregular.
Water-logged drywall will appear to sag downward. Small bubbles or drooping sections may also indicate the presence of water in your drywall. [1] X Research source Walls with advanced leaks in them may also appear to curve outward. Drywall will eventually buckle under the weight of the water saturating it.
Mold can cause allergies, and lead to other potentially serious health problems. If you see mold growing on a wall, remove the mold and fix the leak in your wall.
Musty-smelling walls will often be accompanied by other signs of a leak (e. g. , discoloration). This will not always be the case though; sometimes an odor will be the only sign of a leak deep in a wall. Thick drywall can effectively absorb water (almost like a sponge) and prevent any visual signs of the leak from showing.
Newer piping made of plastic PVC pipe will amplify the sound of dripping, making it easier to hear. If you have an older house with iron pipes, you’ll have a harder time hearing a leak.
Of course, this won’t tell you where the leak is located, but at least it can indicate whether or not you have a leak in a wall.
If the water meter reading doesn’t change over the course of 3 hours, the leak isn’t coming from your plumbing. It may be coming from a leak in your roof or walls, or seeping in through basement walls.
Even if you don’t notice water leaks in your walls, check your eaves and downspouts annually to make sure they’re not clogged.
Externally, by digging a trench around the foundation and sealing the entire underground portion of the foundation with sealant and a protective barrier. Internally, by removing any damaged studs and drywall and patching the crack up with epoxy.
You can purchase or rent a moisture meter at a large hardware store or home-improvement store. These gadgets are frequently used by professional home-inspectors to find leaks or wet walls.
When using an infrared camera, hot objects will have red or orange coloring, while cool objects will have blue or purple coloring. You may be able to rent an infrared camera from a professional contractor, a home-improvement center, or from a photography shop.
Often, the patch of wall which shows signs of a leak is not directly in front of the leaky pipe or fixture. Water can drain along the outside of pipes in your walls or trickle many feet down the inside of your walls before the telltale signs of a leak become visible. Both a utility knife and a drywall saw can be purchased at your local hardware store.
