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Imagine paying hundred dollars more on your water bill and not knowing why, or waking up one morning to find your ceiling sagging and your walls growing mould. Sound far-fetched? Not if youโ€™ve got a hidden water leak.

Water leaks are sneaky and you canโ€™t always hear them. You donโ€™t always see the damage right away but theyโ€™re there quietly costing you money and wrecking your home from the inside out.

Catch them before they cause a wreck! Hereโ€™s how to stop a hidden leak in its tracks.

Why Hidden Leaks Are Serious Trouble

You wouldnโ€™t ignore a burst pipe flooding your kitchen, right? A hidden leak is just as dangerous - only slower and more subtle.

  • They rot your walls and floors
  • They cause mould thatโ€™s bad for your health
  • They destroy paint, insulation, and even foundations
  • They waste thousands of litres of water
  • And yep โ€” they send your water bill skyrocketing

If your gut says somethingโ€™s off, it probably is.

Signs You Might Have a Hidden Leak

You donโ€™t need a plumberโ€™s license to spot when somethingโ€™s not right. Keep an eye (and ear) out for these signs:

Water billโ€™s gone through the roof

Did your usage double? Skyrocketing bills can only mean one thing if your habits havenโ€™t changed, youโ€™re likely paying for water thatโ€™s going straight into your walls or underground.

Dripping sounds

Hear dripping, hissing or gurgling when everything's switched off? Some leaks can be visible like faucets but if you think itโ€™s inside your walls, thatโ€™s not your imagination itโ€™s water escaping somewhere it shouldnโ€™t.

Bubbling paint or damp patches

Is your paint blistering? Ceiling sagging? Floors feeling squishy? Thatโ€™s not just wear and tear. Itโ€™s water, slowly eating away at your house.

Musty smells or sudden mould

Canโ€™t see water, but your house smells like a wet towel? Thatโ€™s a big red flag โ€” moistureโ€™s getting in where it shouldn't.

Weak water pressure

Your shower suddenly feels like itโ€™s on holiday? A hidden leak could be draining your system from the inside.

Find Out If You Have a Leak in 15 Minutes

Step 1: Shut everything off

Turn off every tap, appliance, and water feature. Double-check the toiletโ€™s not running and no oneโ€™s using a hose.

Step 2: Find the meter

Itโ€™s usually near the footpath, in a small box in the ground. Flip it open and youโ€™ll see a series of numbers โ€” including little red dials.

Step 3: Write down the numbers

Take note of everything, especially the red digits. This is your โ€œbeforeโ€ reading.

Step 4: Wait 15 minutes

Walk away. Donโ€™t run a tap, flush the loo, or start the washing machine. Just wait.

Step 5: Read the meter again

If the numbers moved even slightly, this means that waterโ€™s moving through your pipes. And if nothing was being used? Youโ€™ve got a leak.

This trick works for homes and businesses alike. For toilet leaks, you can try putting food colouring in the tank and then wait for 30 mnts. If you have notice water dripping even without the flushing, you do have a leak. Youโ€™ll notice this as well in other areas where water keeps on dripping.

If your propertyโ€™s large or the plumbingโ€™s complicated, professional leak detection in Adelaide is the best answer. A plumber have advanced tools that allows them to detect leak without the need to dig. Through acoustic leak detection or thermal imaging, they accurately pinpoint where the problem is coming from.

Where Are Hidden Leaks Hiding?

Leaks can show up in the unlikeliest places. Hereโ€™s where to look:

Inside

  • Behind the toilet
  • Under sinks and vanities
  • Behind dishwashers and washing machines
  • Inside walls near the bathroom or laundry

Outside

  • Garden taps and irrigation lines
  • Outdoor showers
  • Pool plumbing
  • Under concrete driveways

Underground or Before the Meter

If the waterโ€™s leaking between the street and your meter, it might be your water companyโ€™s job to fix it โ€” not yours.

Still Canโ€™t Find the Leak?

If the meter test shows a leak but you canโ€™t see any signs, donโ€™t stress โ€” there are pros for that. Adelaideโ€™s leak detection specialists use advanced tech like:

  • Acoustic sensors to listen through walls
  • Thermal imaging to spot hidden moisture
  • Tracer gas and pressure tests for underground leaks

We know how small leaks can turn everything upside down, with some of them even resulting in burst pipes. Don't let it cause long-term damage to your plumbing system, let our leak detection specialists in Adelaide find and repair it for you.ย Whether the leaks are behind your walls, under your floors, inside the ceilings, or underground, we have all the perfect tools to find even the most hidden leaks.

Let our fully licensed and experienced plumbers across Adelaide detect and repair your water pipe, drain, and stormwater drains.

17 April 2025

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