Hidden leaks damage your home. When you start noticing a drop in your water pressure or see water dripping from the ceiling, you probably have a leak.

Leaving water leaks without dealing with them as soon as possible is dangerous and could lead to much worse consequences down the road.

But if you find a leak on your walls, floors or coming from the ceiling, how do you locate the source of the leak? Sometimes it isn’t as easy as it sounds. With this handy how-to guide we’ll outline how to find leaks, what to do when you do discover a leak and how to know if you have a water leak in the first place.

Sometimes, it’s very obvious if you have a water leak in your house. Damp patches appear on ceilings, water starts to pool on the floor, or your water pressure drops dramatically. But sometimes it isn’t as straightforward. Some of the symptoms of leaking pipes are subtle, and drips from a ceiling may be the result of years of cumulative water damage from a leaking pipe. Ideally, it’s best to find leaks before they get to that point.

So, what can you do?

• Water pressure test – You’ll need a water pressure gauge to test the water pressure in your home. First, turn off all of the taps inside and outside your home. Attach the gauge to your garden tap. If you haven’t got an outside tap, attach it to your kitchen tap. Then, turn the tap on fully and measure the flow rate. The sweet spot for household water flow is around 15 litres per minute. Anything between 10 – 15 litres is fine but if it drops below 10 litres you should start looking for a leak or hire a plumber to get to the bottom of it.
• Check utility bills – If you notice your water bill is suddenly higher than normal, (discounting the current cost of living problems in the UK) it could indicate a leak somewhere in your home. This method usually only works for drastic leaks, as the only way you’re likely to notice a difference in your bill is if there is a massive unexplainable spike.
• Water meter test – If you have a water meter in your home, this can be a convenient way to keep track of possible leaks in your home. Basically, shut off all of your faucets, including external taps. Write down the water meter reading and then wait for one hour. Check back after that hour and if the number has changed, there’s a leak somewhere. Simple but effective.
• Water patches on walls and ceilings – Hopefully, if you notice a damp patch or have dripping water from the ceiling, this will just be a signifier of a new leak and not something that has been going on for years without you noticing. This is pretty much the most obvious sign that you have a leak in the pipes of your house. By the time water starts to leak out of a wall or floor, you should be prepared to check the internal structure of the house to ensure no structural damage has occurred.

So, that’s how you can discover if you have a leak, but how do you find its source? If it is inside your walls or in another place that isn’t easily accessible, there are several methods you can employ. For smaller leaks in taps, toilets and showers there are simple methods to help zero in on the source in no time.

• Pipes – Vulnerable to freezing during winter, the best place to check is the outside of the house. You should also check anywhere that the pipes are exposed to the elements, as this will be the most likely place for frost damage to occur.
• Walls and ceilings – Check for water stains, discolouring and bulging on walls and ceilings. Water coming from these areas is usually either a leak from outside or an issue with water pipes inside the wall. Use the water meter method to determine whether the leak is inside your pipe system or is seepage from outside. If the meter continues to rise after all faucets have been turned off, it’s a pipe leak. If the numbers remain the same, it’s water leaking in from outside.
• Check under sinks – Look for water stains, pools of water and warped carpentry. The leak is likely to be coming from a worn or perished seal.
• Tap faucets – If you have a leak in your taps, check the rubber washers. These often perish with age and are the cause of leaking in household taps.
• Shower – With a shower head or other type of attachment, leaks are pretty obvious to see and can be fixed a lot of times by simply tightening up the seal.
• Toilet – A good trick to finding toilet leaks is to add a small amount of food dye into the tank and wait. If you see the colour appear in the bowl without you flushing the toilet, then you have a leak.
• Washing machines and dishwashers – Leaks for these appliances commonly occur at the connections between the input hoses and the machine or at the pipe in the wall.

It’s crucial to deal with leaks as quickly as possible. It depends whereabouts in your home the leak is detected but you shouldn’t leave it for much longer after it is discovered, even if it’s clear that it’s a slow leak that has been ongoing for years without your knowledge.

Follow these simple steps to rest easy after you discover a water leak in your home:

• Turn off the water supply – If the leak is a torrent of water coming from a burst pipe, this is your first step. If you’re unsure of where your water valve is, it’s usually located where the water pipe enters into your property.
• Turn off electricity – If you find a leak near an electrical outlet it is best to turn off the power at the mains immediately. Water and electricity do not mix! So, it’s a good idea to try and avoid risk of electrical shock.
• Assess damage – Get a complete view of the damage the leak has caused to your property. If it is a slow leak that has been going on for years undetected, you may have structural damage to the inside of your house. Water eats away at wooden joists over time, rotting away these vital structural components.
• Remove excess water – If it is safe to do so, begin to remove any pooled water with mops or towels. Try to remove as much of the water as possible.
• Ventilate the area – When possible, open doors and windows near the leak. This helps with the drying process, evaporating the water more efficiently.
• Hire a plumber – As soon as you can, contact someone with expertise to assess the extent of the leak and get it fixed to a professional standard.

Finding the source of a water leak is usually fairly easy. Following the common-sense procedures outlined here you’ll be able to find the source of the leak in no time. It should be noted however, that you shouldn’t hesitate to employ the services of a professional if the water leak in your home remains elusive.

For other useful ‘how to guides’ to fix issues in your home, such as how to fit a kitchen sink and how to find the right plumber, take a look at our blog. Full of inspirational DIY content, we’re sure you’ll find all the information you need for your next DIY project.