Hidden Bathroom Water Leak | Plumbers In Wichita KS

When most people think of a water leak, they imagine a gush of water. But water damage isn’t always apparent until significant damage has been done. If you don’t know what to look for, you could have a leak happening right now. By knowing the signs of a hidden leak, you can be sure when it’s time to call the plumbers in Wichita, KS.

Why It’s So Hard to Notice Leaks

You might be wondering why leaks are so hard to identify. Think about the way your bathroom plumbing works. For the most part, your bathroom plumbing is behind your walls. Sure, you can see a leak from the base of your toilet or your sink faucet. But what about a leak further in your pipes?

Silent leaks tend to go unnoticed for days or even months. At first, the only indication might be a slight rise in your water bill. Eventually, you could notice more significant issues. You may only realize you have a leak until you have hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage.

The True Cost of a Leak

In addition to costing you more in repairs, a leak costs you in wasted water. No matter how small a leak may be, it costs you on your water bill. If you have concerns for the environment, your excess water use probably won’t sit well with you.

Another issue with an unrepaired leak is the potential for mold growth. Where there’s moisture, there could be mold. In many cases, the mold is a health hazard. You might not notice the mold until you start to develop symptoms of mold exposure. By then, you need to hire a mold remediation company.

What Should You Look Out For

If you’re worried about a leak in your bathroom, you should call Wichita plumbers as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for the following signs and act before the damage occurs.

Mold or Mildew

While there are several causes of mold and mildew growth, they all stem from one issue – too much moisture. Typically, homes don’t develop moisture issues overnight unless there’s a leak. Your shower is likely always to have mildew, but that’s normal. It’s when mold shows up in new places that you should worry

If you see a sudden explosion of mold in your bathroom, you could have a leak somewhere. The excess moisture makes an environment in which mold thrives. Because mold also needs darkness, the growth may be under your sink. When you clean your bathroom, be sure to check in your sink cabinet for mold. You should also inspect your walls for signs of mold and mildew.

As soon as you find mold or mildew, look for a potential cause. If you can’t find any reason for it, call a plumber.

Loose Paint or Wallpaper

Does the paint or wallpaper in your bathroom need a major touch-up? Peeling paint or wallpaper is a common occurrence in homes with leaks. As the water gets between the wall and your paint, the bond between the materials breaks. Your paint or wallpaper will slowly begin to fall off in chunks.

If you want to fix the issue, you need to do more than apply a new coat of paint. There’s a reason for the cosmetic damage, and it could be a leak. To keep this from happening again, you need to hire a plumber and have them repair the leak.

Wall Damage

When your walls come into contact with too much moisture, they soften. The material bubbles and warps, eventually causing it to sag or crumble. If you see damage to your wall and you’re not sure what caused it, you might need to call a plumber.

Keep in mind that the damage could be on your ceiling. Depending on the location of your bathroom and your plumbing, a water leak could come from above. Wherever the damage is, it will continue to worsen until you repair the leak.

Floor Damage

Spilling water on your bathroom floor is almost unavailable. After you shower, water drips onto the floor. If you have kids, water may constantly end up on your floor. However, that water doesn’t sit in a pool for hours at a time. It often takes a persistent leak to cause floor damage.

Buckling, cracking, and staining on your bathroom floor is an indication of a leak. If you have loose tiles or spongy laminate, a leak is also probable. Although you don’t see any water on the floor, it could be emanating from a pipe under the floor.

Strange Stains on the Ceiling

When is the last time you looked up at your ceiling? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t pay much attention to it. But this may be a habit you want to change. One way to identify a hidden leak is to spot stains on your ceiling.

If you have a second-story bathroom or a basement, the ceiling in the room underneath the bathroom may have a stain. It’s worth noting that the stain could be on the ceiling of a different room because the water travels. For that reason, any ceiling stain warrants a call to the plumber.

Don’t be so quick to blame the stain on day-to-day bathroom activities. Even if you spill water from your sink into the floor, it’s unlikely to cause a stain. The most common culprit is a leak.

Musty Smell

Your bathroom is full of smells, most of which are unappealing. But those smells should go away when you clean. If you notice a foul, musty smell after you clean your bathroom, there could be a leak in your plumbing system. The leaking water behind your walls never dries out, and bacteria forms.

That bacteria puts off a nasty smell. If you don’t address the leak, the smell will never go away. In fact, it will worsen over time.