The costly damage of a hidden water leak 

Owning a home is expensive, and the last thing we need is extra costs due to a plumbing issue, and in particular a hidden leak. 

Sometimes leaks are not immediately obvious or visible, but the damage is! Here’s some of the costly damage hidden leaks can cause:

• A leak will mean using water and therefore higher water bills 
• Black mould and mildew can often be the effect of a hidden leak as the water seeps into walls 
• The water seeping into the walls can also damage plaster, paint and wallpaper
• If the water leak reaches electrical wiring, it can create a safety hazard and ultimately cost thousands in repairs 
• The leak may get to a point where only a plumber can fix it, which will cost money 

The warning signs of an early hidden water leak in your house

The key is to detect the hidden water leak early, and there are some top tips for spotting the signs: 

• As mentioned above, a leak will cause an increase in utility bills, so if you see your water bill increase, but usage has not changed, it is highly likely a hidden leak is the culprit
• Musty and persistent damp or mouldy smells indicate a leak could be hidden behind the walls or under the floors in your property and causing wet walls and discoloured paint
• If your shower or taps are not flowing at their normal rate, your water pressure is low, meaning a leak in the pipework could be the reason. 
• It might be simply that you can hear water running but all appliances are off. Bingo – that will be a leak hidden somewhere! 
• Any wet patches in the home that you are not sure where they have come from will most likely be from a hidden leak. 

How to fix a hidden leak

Once you have decided there must be a leak, there is one more thing you can do to confirm it. 

Turn off all your known water sources. If the meter is still moving, it is likely you have a leak. 

The next thing is to find the source! We would recommend checking under sinks, behind toilets and around all your appliances and pipes. If you have noticed damp patches or mould it would indicate the leak is around where the patches are so check there.

How you can then stop the leak yourself. 

A few things you can try yourself to try and fix the leak include:

• Tighten loose connections if the leak is coming from a fitting or tap
• Replace worn washers or seals – many small leaks come from taps or visible pipe joints caused by worn rubber washers and seals
• If the leak is from a small crack in a pipe, you can use some waterproof repair tape to help reduce the leak until a permanent replacement is possible
• Turn off the water supply at the stopcock to stop further damage, 

When to call D.R Gas Works for your hidden leak 

There are certain times when you will have to call us for your hidden leaks. 

If you cannot locate the leak, our team are experts and will be able to find those places you hadn’t thought of.

If the leak is coming from behind the walls, under the floors or through the ceilings, a plumber is best to repair this. 

It is also important to call us if the leak involves the main water pipes, central heating or electrical sockets as if these are not repaired properly, it will cause further damage and repairs.

And remember – temporary fixes will not solve the long-term leak, so you will need our team to repair the leak permanently.  

Our team at D.R Gas Works is on hand for any of your water leak issues, just get in touch and we can help!

Don’t let the leak continue as it will save money and further disruptions.