Suspected hidden water leak: what to look for and what to do
If you think water is escaping somewhere you cannot see, the clues are usually damp, stains, the sound of running water, or water use that does not add up. A simple, safe check is whether the water meter keeps moving when everything is switched off. A stain or a description cannot tell anyone where a leak is coming from, so tell us what you are seeing and we will work out the appropriate next step.
How this usually shows up
- Damp patches, staining or peeling paint on walls, ceilings or floors
- A musty smell or mould that keeps coming back
- The sound of running water when everything is off
- A water bill or meter reading higher than expected
- Low or changing water pressure, or a pump that seems to run a lot
What may be happening
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. Someone needs to see the problem to know which applies.
- A leak in supply pipework
- Pipes inside walls, under floors or in concrete can corrode or fail over time.
- A leaking fitting, valve or appliance connection
- Joints, taps, valves and hoses can drip slowly, sometimes out of sight.
- A running toilet cistern
- A cistern that keeps refilling can waste a lot of water without any visible leak.
- A leak in a waste pipe
- A slow leak from a waste pipe or shower can wet a wall or ceiling.
- Water from outside
- Rain, a roof, a balcony or a neighbouring property can also cause damp, and it is not always a plumbing leak.
- Condensation
- Damp and mould can also come from condensation in poorly ventilated rooms.
What you can safely check
- Note where the damp or staining is, take photos, and see whether it grows over a few days.
- Listen for running or hissing water when everything is switched off.
- With all taps and water-using appliances off, check whether the water meter, if you have one you can easily reach, is still moving. Note the reading and check again after a while.
- Check whether a toilet cistern keeps refilling or trickling.
- If you can see water escaping quickly and the main stop valve is easy and safe to reach, closing it is a sensible precaution. Never force it.
- If you have a pump or tank, note whether the pump runs when no tap is open.
- Note any change in water pressure or in your water bill.
- Do not open walls, ceilings or floors yourself.
- Do not use electrics in wet areas or near damp ceilings, and keep away from wet sockets and lights.
- Do not use chemicals or sealants on a suspected leak.
- Do not assume where the leak is from a stain. Water can travel a long way from its source.
When to get professional help
- The meter keeps moving with everything off, or the damp keeps growing.
- There is water near sockets, lights or the electrical board, or a ceiling looks swollen or is sagging. Keep clear, avoid using the electrics there, and call 112 if there is any danger.
- Water is escaping quickly.
- You can hear running water in a wall or floor.
- You cannot find the source, or the damp returns.
How BB Cyprus can help
Send BB Cyprus a request with photos of what you are seeing, where, and since when. We review the symptoms, phone you back and tell you the appropriate next step, which may include a visit to see the property. Plumbing and drainage are areas we deal with. You get a written quote before any work starts.
This is part of our plumbing work.
BB Cyprus, also known as Bits&Bobs Cyprus, handles home repairs and property maintenance in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca. You do not need to know which trade you need.
Related problems
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Every property is different, and electrical, refrigerant and pressurised-system work should be done by a qualified professional.