How to Spot Hidden Plumbing Leaks in Your Home

To locate hidden water leaks in your home, begin by scrutinizing your water bill for any unanticipated surges that might suggest a leak. Inspect your walls and ceilings for any signs that might indicate the presence of water. Listen for the sound of running water—after all the taps have been turned off—that might suggest a leak behind walls or under floors. Look closely at the areas around your appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines, that very well might have sustained water damage. Try to isolate the sound of water when everything else is quiet. When you've done all this, do the water meter test. Record the meter reading. Don't use any water for a few hours. Then compare the two readings. Finally, check for the presence of mold or a musty smell that could be due to hidden moisture. If your investigations turn up no leads, it might be time to call in a professional.

Finding a water leak in a hidden pipe requires several precautions. The first is to watch the water bill for any increases that might suggest a hidden leak. The next is to give the water meter a check when all the fixtures in the house are turned off; if both the meter and the house are leak-free, the meter shouldn't be turning. In the search itself, be on the lookout for any signs of nefarious moisture in homes; if dastardly damp spots show up on walls, ceilings, or floors, the water might be significantly closer than the nearest fixture. And this is also a good time to check for any running sounds when the house is supposed to be quiet.

Start by examining typical problem areas like beneath sinks, around toilets, and close to water-using appliances. Look for suspicious spots where there's a lot of water that shouldn't be there, signs of mold, or spaces that just smell wrong (and by wrong, I mean musty or damp). This is also a good time to take a look at your water meter. A good way to check for leaks is to read the meter right before you stop using any water at all for several hours and then look at the meter again. Listen for leaks. If you can hear something dripping or rushing behind walls or in the floor, you probably have a water leak. And don't forget to check outdoors for possible leaks in your faucets and irrigation system. If you still can't find the source of the problem, you might want to look into some high-tech options like infrared cameras or consult a professional who can do a deep-dive inspection of your plumbing.

To locate a leak, a plumber typically employs a few common methods. They usually begin with a visual inspection, seeking up high and down low for water-besmirched areas that offer up a clue. If standard plumbing practices of "look and listen" don’t yield a solution, a "high-tech" approach generally follows. Common tools of the trade include infrared cameras and listening devices that can detect minute sounds of running water. If those devices are insufficient, some plumbers employ smoke tests, which are exactly what they sound like. A smoke test is generally considered a last resort. When all else fails, a plumber can employ a pressure test, monitoring the results for signs of a drop in pressure that would indicate a leak.

Water damage that is sudden and accidental, like that from a burst pipe, is usually covered by homeowners insurance. Water damage that is caused by gradual leaks or maintenance issues, however, is often not covered. Review the particulars of your specific policy to understand what kinds of water damage are covered and what kinds are not.

The expense involved in remedying an underground leaking pipe can range quite a lot, depending on how badly it's damaged, where it's located, and the particulars of your property. On the lower end, a basic repair might set the average homeowner back around $500, with more severe cases of leaking needing to be remedied with a standard Roto-Rooter service that runs around $2,000. On the upper end, we have cases where the piping needed to be repaired or replaced entirely; in these instances, we saw expenses run upwards of $6,000. If you were to average everything out (guessing at high and low, and splitting the difference), I'd say the average repair will run you closer to $4,000.

Concerning concealed plumbing leaks, when you're interacting with a home insurance adjuster, don't admit fault or liability for the damage. Don't guess about the cause of the leak or the extent of the damage. Avoid providing an estimated cost for repairs. And don't say that the problem is old or that you've had any previous knowledge of the issue, unless you're 100% sure. The adjuster is not your friend. And what you say may be used against you in a later claims hearing.

Involving several key steps, making a successful claim for insurance on a water leak demands attention to detail and good record-keeping. Begin by thoroughly reviewing your insurance policy so you understand the particulars of your coverage, including any exclusions related to water damage. Next, document the leak ASAP. That means taking a whole lot of photos and some videos to really capture the extent of the damage, just in case your insurer tries to lowball you on the settlement. Pens and notepads are good for keeping records of all communications with the plumbers and other repair services you might need to call. Report that leak to your insurance provider pronto. Call, don't email, if you want to get through to a real live person. And when you do call, have all the relevant information and documentation at hand to sustain the illusion of efficiency that helps claims gets approved.

Usually, the best first step is to call a plumber to find and fix the plumbing leak. This helps ensure that no further damage occurs and that you have good, detailed information about the problem to relay to your insurance company. Once the plumbing problem is fixed, you can reach out to your insurance provider and discuss how (and if) they will cover the problem. If they will cover it, they will likely need to see any documentation or reports that the plumber has generated.

It is crucial to stay mum when it comes to being at fault or even negligent if you want any chance of a claim for hidden plumbing leaks being successful. These kinds of claims are already difficult to win because they usually come down to the insured trying to prove that their damages were the result of a plumbing failure and not, say, a roof that decided to start leaking after 30 years. Poor maintenance (or a lack of it) on your part is never going to help your case, and saying anything that suggests you have been less than diligent—ahem, "neglectful"—will pretty much sink your chances.