Spotting and Fixing a Wall Leak

The weather has been stormy over the last few days, and you’ve spent more time inside than you have in a long time. You noticed a small dark mark on your wall, you thought it was only a smudge, but could that smudge be a sign that there is a leak in your wall?

The cost to repair water damage to your wall could end up around $5000 if you don’t address it right away.

We put together a quick guide to help you sleuth out any leaks in your walls. Here, you can learn everything you need to know about identifying and repairing a wall leak before the water damage gets worse.

How to Identify a Wall Leak Without Opening a Wall

Leaks can come from a variety of sources and pop up in any wall in your home. If you notice any of these signs, you might want to check for a leak somewhere in the wall.

• Mold or mildew spots on the wall
• Warping of the wall, floor, or ceiling
• Cracking or water-stained floor or ceiling
• Peeling paint/ wallpaper
• Musty smell

If you can’t find any mold, but the symptoms don’t resolve, you might want to call a professional mold remediation specialist to check it.

Once You’ve Found the Leak in Your Wall, How Do You Fix It?

If it’s a simple repair and you’re comfortable trying it DIY style, you can attempt to repair the leak yourself. For anything more complicated (or if you’re a DIY novice), you’ll want to call in the pros.

To repair a leaky water pipe, you’ll need to remove a section of the drywall. Once you expose the leak, you can repair any damage and replace the section of drywall. To finish, make sure to prime, paint, and sand the cut-out section so it blends in with the surrounding wall.

The problem might not be a leaky pipe. Sometimes the culprit causing your water damage is a clogged gutter drain or damaged flashing. Make sure you know where the leak is coming from before you go around cutting holes in your wall.

Don’t Let Water Damage Leave a Permanent Mark on Your Home

As we mentioned before, the longer you let a leak go, the worse and more expensive the damage gets. You should jump on it as soon as you see any signs of a leak in your walls.

These tips should help you spot a leak before it becomes a big problem. If you live in an older home, a quick spot check once or twice a year couldn’t hurt.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a few things about identifying and repairing a wall leak. If you have any questions about this article, or if you need professional help fixing any water damage in your walls, contact us today.