Find Hidden Plumbing Leaks Before Winter Sets In

A small plumbing leak you can’t see is easy to ignore in the fall. Once Akron’s first hard freeze arrives, that same leak can turn into soaked drywall, warped floors, or mold behind your walls. November is the ideal month for leak detection because your home is closed up, the furnace is running, and you still have time to make repairs before winter weather sets in across Summit County.

Warning Signs of a Hidden Leak

Most hidden leaks announce themselves quietly. Watch for these clues around your home.

• A water bill that climbs even though your usage hasn’t changed
• The sound of running water when every fixture is off
• Brown stains or bubbling paint on ceilings and walls
• A musty smell in cabinets, closets, or the basement
• Soft or buckling flooring near a toilet, tub, or dishwasher

Where Leaks Like to Hide

Many Akron neighborhoods, from Highland Square to Ellet, are full of homes built decades ago with aging galvanized or copper supply lines. Corroded joints and worn fittings in these older systems are common sources of slow leaks. Check the shutoff valves under sinks, the supply lines behind toilets and washing machines, and any exposed pipes in your basement or crawl space. Slab leaks and pinhole leaks inside walls are harder to spot and usually require professional leak detection equipment to locate without tearing into drywall.

Try This Simple Water Meter Test

You can check for a hidden leak in about two hours with nothing but your water meter.

1. Turn off every faucet, appliance, and fixture that uses water.
2. Write down the reading on your water meter.
3. Wait two hours without using any water.
4. Check the meter again. If the number has changed, water is escaping somewhere in your plumbing system.

For a quick toilet check, add a few drops of food coloring to the tank. If color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, the flapper is leaking.