Notice a few damp spots in your living room or kitchen walls.
There is no way to identify issues by looking at the wall, but chances are there could be a leak in the walls, causing damp patches. Generally, homeowners do not know how to deal with it and ignore the occurrence.
The problem with this is that if there truly is a water leak, it will only spread and worsen if not brought under control. Hence, if you notice a water leak behind your wall, you are advised to take immediate action before the problem worsens.
Finding A Leakage In The Wall
Usually, when leakages occur in the wall, they are caused by minor issues in the plumbing system or the development of cracks and tears in the exterior. Even a tiny hole will route water away from its natural path in the pipes, forming streaks on your walls.
People often use tools like moisture meters or infrared cameras to determine the cause of a leakage problem. However, there are a few other things you can do to deal with water leakages in walls:
3 Things You Should Do To Deal With Leakage In Walls
1. Identify The Source Of The Leak
With water leaking into the wall of your house, it is only natural to panic and wonder what’s wrong with your plumbing system. But if you take a few moments to investigate, you’ll get to the bottom of the matter.
First, check the interior plumbing for defects by checking the water meter. Turn off all the faucets and taps in your house before noting the water reading. Wait for at least three or four hours without fixtures and recheck the reading. If the amount of water used has increased, you can be sure it might be an internal plumbing leak.
When the reading is unchanged, check for other issues like clogged gutters, improper caulking, and exterior plumbing. However, this issue could also arise due to improper drainage, cracked pipes or other damages. If you have access to tools, use them to find the source of the leaks at home.
A. Infrared Camera
As the name suggests, this camera uses an optical system to detect the area’s required energy levels and temperature. This system moves the camera along the walls to find a hard place. If one spot on the wall appears more relaxed than the rest of the area, water may have leaked and collected there.
B. Moisture Meter
Any suspect surface can be tested using a moisture meter. The device is designed to detect moisture levels on any surface, so you can move it around on your walls to check for leaks. Check on a few different points on the wet wall; the point with the highest reading is likely the spot closest to a leak.
2. Repair If Something Needs Fixing
Once you have narrowed down the problem area, see what you can do to fix it as soon as possible. With interior plumbing issues, you may have to call a professional plumber to cut the wall section. A licensed technician will be equipped to see the leaking pipe area promptly, fix any leaking taps, and replace the damaged sections.
If patching and caulking are required, get that done and finish it off with primer and a fresh coat of paint. Scrape off the old caulking and use one that fits the project.
If you are confident about your skills, DIY the caulk with a caulk gun and apply it to the area at a slight angle.
Leaking issues in the downspout or sprinkler system might be slightly more challenging. Remember that water flows through the downspout and should leave the house and foundation. If not, there is a chance of internal leaks occurring.
3. Prevent Further Occurrences
A. Clean The Gutters
Hidden leaks are found mostly when they appear on the wall as damp patches. But you can prevent such occurrences by following a few practices, like keeping gutters clean. If your area has been hit by heavy rainfall, make it a point to clear the rain gutters the very next day.
B. Check The Roof Periodically
Also, check the roof and window weep holes for signs of leakage. Since these parts are visible outside, cracks or dents are readily recognisable. Another thing you can do is upgrade the home insulation.
C. Upgrade The Insulation
With age, the home insulation can weaken and allow the temperature from outside to affect your plumbing system. As you may know, frozen, burst and blocked pipes are waiting to happen. So, if you haven’t changed the insulation for years, maybe it’s time to get an upgrade.
D. Consult A Professional For Check-Ups
Annual plumbing inspections will help you get to the bottom of issues before they even surface. The plumbing system especially has a bunch of copper pipes and iron parts that tend to rust and corrode over long-term use. Checking which needs replacing will help keep the system in good shape.
Fixing Your Leaking Wall
While this short guide has limited methods for handling wall leaks, you can take proactive steps to keep your plumbing in shape. Conducting an HVAC maintenance check twice yearly is not compulsory, but we highly recommend it. These checks will bring the faults in walls or ceilings to light, thus preventing any significant mishaps.
Finally, do not hesitate to contact us if you are experiencing a water leak in Perth. We can assist you in identifying the cause of the problem and provide you with a permanent and cost-effective solution.
