Hidden water leaks are expensive, damaging, and surprisingly common. A slow leak inside a wall or under a slab can go unnoticed for months — running up your water bill and quietly rotting through floors and joists. Here\’s how to spot one before it becomes a serious problem.
Check Your Water Meter
Turn off every tap, appliance, and irrigation line in your home. Then go to your water meter and watch the dial for 15 minutes. If it moves at all — you have a leak. This is the fastest and most reliable DIY test you can do.
Compare Your Water Bills
Pull out your last three months of water bills. If your usage has crept up without an obvious cause — a new washing machine, a garden irrigation system, extra people in the house — a hidden leak is the most likely explanation. Even a small 2mm pinhole in a pipe can waste over 200 litres per day.
Look for Damp Patches and Discolouration
Walk through your home and look carefully at ceilings, skirting boards, and walls for water stains, bubbling paint, or soft spots. In bathrooms, press gently on the grout around your shower or bath — if tiles flex or the grout is crumbling, there may be a leak behind them.
Listen at Night
When the house is quiet, listen for the sound of running water. A faint hissing or trickling sound when everything is turned off is a strong indicator of a pressurised pipe leak. Concrete slab leaks often produce a low rumbling sound that can be felt as much as heard.
Check Under Sinks and Behind Appliances
Open up the cabinets under your kitchen sink, bathroom vanity, and any under-counter appliances. Look for pooling water, rust stains, or a musty smell. Even small, slow drips can cause major mould problems over time.
When to Call a Professional
If your meter test shows a leak but you can\’t find it, or if you suspect a leak inside a wall or under your slab, don\’t start breaking tiles. Modern electronic leak detection equipment can pinpoint a leak to within centimetres — without unnecessary damage to your home.
At Boksburg Plumbers, we use acoustic and thermal imaging technology to find leaks fast. Call us on 073 707 8085 or book a leak audit online. We serve Boksburg, Germiston, Benoni, Kempton Park and the wider East Rand.