How to detect a water leak at home
To detect a water leak, turn off all the taps and check whether the water meter keeps moving: if it does, water is being lost. Then look for the most common signs (a higher bill, damp, stains, mould, the sound of water with nothing running or loss of pressure) to narrow down the area. If the leak is hidden, a professional can locate the exact point without breaking anything.
Many leaks go unnoticed until the water bill arrives and the consumption does not match what has been used. Detecting them early saves money and prevents greater damage to floors, walls and foundations.
In this guide we explain how to check it yourself, where to look and when to call a professional.
Check the water meter first
It is the simplest way to find out whether there is a leak, even if it cannot be seen.
- Turn off all taps and switch off appliances that use water: washing machine, dishwasher, irrigation, pool pump.
- Write down the meter reading or take a photo.
- Wait a while without using any water.
- Check the meter again. If it has moved, water is escaping somewhere.
If the property has stopcocks for different zones, you can close them one by one and repeat the test to narrow down where the leak is.
Signs that you have a water leak
- The bill goes up without any change in your habits.
- Damp patches or stains on walls, ceilings or floors that do not dry.
- Mould and a musty smell in a specific area.
- The sound of running water when nobody is using any.
- Loss of pressure at taps and showers.
- Waterlogged areas or greener-than-usual grass in the garden.
Where to look for the leak by area
Bathroom and kitchen
Check the connections of taps and sanitary ware, the toilet cistern (if it keeps refilling without being used, it is leaking) and the flexible hoses under the sink and washbasin.
Walls and floors
Embedded pipes give themselves away through stains, blistering paint, loose tiles or swelling wooden floors.
Outside and garden
A buried pipe that is leaking usually leaves damp or waterlogged areas or greener vegetation. If you suspect the leak is underground, we explain how a leak in a buried pipe is located.
Swimming pool
If the water level drops more than evaporation can explain, there may be a leak in the pool shell or pipes. We explain it in whether a leak in a pool pipe under concrete can be repaired.
When to call a professional
When the meter confirms the leak but you cannot find where it is, or when the signs point to an embedded or buried pipe. Searching for it by breaking things blindly is expensive: the effective approach is to locate the exact point and open only there, or repair without building work if the pipe allows it.
At Limpiezas Domingo we locate leaks for homeowners, residential communities, hotels and large commercial premises with specialised equipment, without unnecessary building work. As well as the corrective service, we offer a preventive service for installations to avoid hidden leaks.
Frequently asked questions about detecting a water leak
How can I tell if I have a water leak using the meter?
Turn off all taps and appliances that use water, note the meter reading and check it again after a while without using any water. If it has moved, water is being lost somewhere in the installation.
Can there be a leak even if no water is visible?
Yes. Many leaks never reach the surface: the water soaks into the ground or inside walls and floors. They are detected through signs such as consumption, damp or loss of pressure.
What signs point to a water leak at home?
A higher bill than usual, damp patches or stains that do not dry, mould, the sound of running water when nobody is using it and loss of pressure at the taps.
Do you have to break things to find a leak?
You should not. With professional detection techniques the exact point of the leak is located and, if necessary, only that spot is opened.
What happens after the leak is located?
It is repaired at the located point or, if the pipe allows it, a repair without building work is considered.
If the meter keeps running, locate the leak as soon as possible
An unlocated leak is a constant loss of money and water, and over time it damages floors, walls and foundations.
At Limpiezas Domingo e Hijos we have been working on drainage networks for more than 15 years in the Marina Alta and La Safor, from Benidorm to Gandía. We locate the exact point of the leak without breaking anything and propose the most suitable repair. You will find all the details on our water leak location and pipe repair without building work service pages.
Call us on 672 450 224 or 966 447 070, or request a quote.