Undetected Water Leak Problem

When you have an undetected water leak problem, damages get worst each day.

Important, there is a big risk with undetected water leak problems. It is up to you to do your best to locate any problems as soon as possible. Why? Because your Insurance Company can deny your claim if the problem persist over time.

I strongly recommend you read the fine print in your homes Insurance Policy very careful.

Especially if it is a new policy

Be sure to see the link at the bottom of the post. It is a news story which aired on NBC it is about an Insurance Company denying such a claim.

Their reason in most cases, is because some people will knowingly leave the leak causing more damage.

Water leaks are not always as obvious as you may think. Unseen water leaks, are just that, unseen.

Water pipes are under floors, in walls, and sometimes even in ceilings. This of course makes it hard for you to know you have a problem.

Pipes in ceilings are not something I would recommend because of freezing in cold weather.

When a pipe in a ceiling burst, the ceiling can collapse. This will also damage everything under it, carpeting, furniture etc. Yes, there are pipes in some ceilings, I have personally seen damages caused because the pipes froze. One claim was in central Florida of all places. The water pipes originally were in the floor and needed replacing. Whoever did the job decided the ceiling was the easiest way to run the pipes? Because it was in Florida they did not give thought to the pipes freezing.

Undetected water leak problem in walls

While it can happen in any wall with pipes in them, walls behind the shower and the washer are known for leaking. Slow leaks behind the wall may not show up until the damages are major. You can expect to find mold already set in because the leak has been going on for a while. Leaks behind the tile in the shower may not show up until the tile starts to fall off the wall. This can be a very expensive repair, because there will be mold, stud damage and drywall work before tile work can begin.

What can you do to prevent this problem?

There is a limit to your options, however there is a few things you can do.

Always monitor your water usage, if you notice your usage is up but you don’t feel you used that much water. Turn off every thing that is using water, go to your main water shut off valve (leave this valve on for now). There should be a gauge showing how much water you use. With all the water shut off in the house, the gauge should not move. You will need to watch close and wait a few minutes if it is a slow leak.

Your next option, inspection.

While unfortunately in most cases you will only find damages already done but you can limit the damages. Check behind the washer for water marks on the wall which would be and indicator there is a leak.

Undetected water leak damages — Water Stains and Mold

Results of Undetected water leak problem — Black Mold from leak in wall

You can also check behind refrigerators that have ice makers or water dispensers. Do the same here, look for water marks on the wall. Open cabinets and look under bathroom, kitchen, and utility sinks for any water stains.

This next step is a little different, bathroom tile mostly in the shower area. As you may not be able to see anything because the damages may only be behind the tile. What you want to do is with a flat hand lightly push on the tile to see if it feels loose or if the wall behind the tile is soft. It is important you don’t push to hard and damage the tile unnecessary.