12 March 2026Mark Smith
Most leaks are silent for weeks before they show on a ceiling. By the time you see a stain, the damage underneath is often four or five times worse than what's visible. Here's how to catch one early.
1. Check your water meter Turn off every tap and appliance in the house. Take a meter reading. Wait 60 minutes. If the reading has moved, water is leaking somewhere — and you should call us.
2. Look for warm or cold spots on walls A hidden hot-water leak will warm a patch of wall that shouldn't be warm. A cold-water leak will cool one. Run your hand over interior walls near bathrooms and kitchens.
3. Listen at night Once the house is quiet, stand near the stop cock and listen. A constant hiss, even with everything off, is a leak somewhere on the mains.
4. Watch the pressure gauge on your boiler If the pressure keeps dropping and you're constantly topping it up, you have a system leak — usually on a radiator valve or a fitting behind the boiler.
5. Smell test near the sink trap Drain leaks often show up as a faint musty smell under the kitchen sink before any water appears. If you smell it, get the torch out.
If any of these ring a bell, give us a call — a 30-minute visit now is a lot cheaper than a ceiling later.
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