03 Jun 2026
Not every leak is obvious. Water can seep behind walls, under floors and inside ceiling slabs for weeks before anyone notices. By then the damage, and the water bill, has added up. Here are five signs worth checking.
1. A water bill that keeps climbing
If your usage looks normal but the bill creeps up, water may be escaping somewhere you cannot see. Compare a few months of bills to spot the trend.
2. Damp patches or bubbling paint
Stains, blistering paint or a musty smell on walls and ceilings often point to water tracking through the structure from a leaking pipe.
3. The sound of running water
If you can hear trickling or hissing when every tap is closed, a concealed pipe could be leaking under pressure.
4. Reduced water pressure
A sudden drop in pressure at your taps or shower can mean water is being lost before it reaches the fixture.
5. The meter test
- Turn off every tap and water-using appliance
- Note the reading on your water meter
- Wait 30 minutes without using any water
- If the reading has moved, you likely have a leak
A professional leak-detection check pinpoints the source without tearing up your whole home. Catching it early keeps a small repair from becoming a major one.