How to Find a Broken Pipe in the Wall

Do you think you might have a broken pipe somewhere in the wall of your home? Finding a broken pipe hidden behind a wall can be a challenge, but it's not impossible. If you do think you have a broken pipe somewhere, you should try to find it as soon as possible, because leaking water can lead to mold growth. If the pipe is a sewer pipe, gases from the sewer could enter your home, creating another health hazard.

How to Find a Broken Pipe

• First, shut off all appliances and fixtures in your home that use water. This means everything from a small faucet to your refrigerator.
• Now check your water meter box. You can find this by the main water shutoff valve, which is located outside your home. Is it moving? If so, you've got a leak somewhere.
• Now that you've confirmed the leak, look for water damage on the walls of your home. This could include wet spots, bubbling paint, stains, and cracks in the wall. This is the first step in finding the leak, but don't think that because the damage is in one place that the leak is in the same place. The leak might be running down a pipe and depositing against the wall.
• In the area directly underneath the water damage on the wall, look at your crawlspace or basement. Pools of water or a leak where the pipes go through the floor are both clues.
• Check out exposed pipes in the crawlspace and basement. If they are corroded or there is moisture on the pipes, the leak is nearby. If you find mold or mildew, the leak is probably right behind the wall at this location.

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