Plumbing · Leaks & Water Damage
Leaks and Water Damage - real answers.
Under-sink leaks, ceiling stains, mystery water on the floor.
All questions in this topic
How do I find a hidden water leak in my house?
Turn off every fixture and appliance, then watch the small red "leak indicator" dial on your water meter for 10 - 15 minutes. If it moves, you have flow somewhere with everything off - that's a leak. Isolate by shutting off the main to the house and the water heater; the meter tells you if it's on the incoming side or inside.
Why is there a brown stain on the ceiling under my bathroom?
A ring-shaped stain directly under a toilet is usually a failed wax ring - the seal between the toilet and the flange. A stain under the tub is usually the tub drain gasket or the overflow gasket. A stain along the wall is often a wall pipe. All three are fixable in half a day; ignoring them turns a $250 fix into a $4,000 subfloor replacement.