The signs are low water pressure, water discoloration, unusual noises in the walls, damp spots or stains, an unexplained jump in your water bill, and visible corrosion on exposed pipe. The water bill is often the earliest warning for a hidden leak.
The Signs
- Low water pressure. At one fixture it is usually an aerator or a partially closed stop. Throughout the house it points at a supply line problem, mineral buildup, or a leak.
- Discolored water. Brown or rusty water suggests corroding galvanized pipe or a failing water heater. Run the cold tap to see whether it is only on the hot side.
- Noises in the walls. Banging (water hammer), whistling (a restriction or pressure problem), or the sound of running water when nothing is on.
- Damp spots, stains, or bubbling paint on walls, ceilings, or floors.
- An unexplained water bill increase. Frequently the first sign of a slab or underground leak, weeks before anything is visible.
- Visible corrosion, green staining, or mineral crust at joints and fittings.
- Warm spots on a floor, which can indicate a hot-water slab leak.
The Quick Test for a Hidden Leak
Turn off every fixture in the house, then check your water meter. If the dial is still moving, water is going somewhere. It is a five-minute check and it catches leaks that would otherwise run for months.
What Ages Pipes Faster in Albuquerque
Hard water leaves mineral scale that narrows supply lines and stresses fittings. Older homes here may still have galvanized steel supply, which corrodes from the inside and eventually restricts flow to a trickle. High incoming pressure without a working pressure reducing valve stresses every joint in the house. And freeze-thaw cycles create the cracks that surface later.
Do Not Wait on These
Water near electrical, a sudden pressure drop across the whole house, or active water where it should not be. Those are emergencies.
Diagnosing It
We use non-invasive leak detection to find hidden leaks without opening walls unnecessarily, and handle pipe repair and repiping.
