Much of your house is probably made of drywall and water is drywall s natural enemy.
Leaking waste pipe in wall.
How to test for a leaking toilet waste pipe.
The leak may be in plastic drain pipes copper supply pipes or galvanized iron pipes.
Many times shifting soil or a house settling can create a gap around the pipe and an escape route for water before it reaches the foundation drain pipe.
A leaking pipe is not just an annoyance but can also cause serious damage.
Water seeping out around the base of the toilet.
If there s a leaking pipe behind a wall you will most definitely.
Does a certain room in your house smell musty.
How to know if there s a leaking pipe.
Anyhow let s not waste any more time and get right down to business.
These leaks occur where the toilet meets the waste pipe below.
Very often water pools on a different spot.
Try to scent the smell of sewage.
Loose or damaged flooring.
Hiring a professional plumber can be very pricey and if you want to try to replace the pipe yourself follow the steps below.
First of all you simply can t run around the house and pinch walls until you find the source of the problem.
Newer piping made of plastic pvc pipe will amplify the sound of dripping making it easier to hear.
When pipes pass through basement walls underground ground water can leak in around the pipes and through the concrete.
Even if the smell is in an area without water pipes moisture can leak through cracks in your foundation and cause damage.
Some of these problems may very well be irreversible.
With a p trap toilet which is the type that goes through the wall will show up more of a leak from a perished pan connector seal than an s trap.
Search exposed basement pipes for corrosion and mould.
The broken pipe is most likely located behind the wall.
For plastic drain pipe make sure the pipe on both sides of the leak is well supported with braces and clamps.
They allow water to seep out at every flush which will wreck flooring rot the subfloor and joists and damage the ceiling below photo 1.
If you have an older house with iron pipes you ll have a harder time hearing a leak.
Your leak is most probably there though it s not necessary.
Stains on the ceiling below.
Let s see how to fix a leaking pipe behind a wall.
This is a sign of moisture and mold growth both of which point to leaking.
While some leaks are totally silent for instance if water is traveling along a wall stud other leaks can sometimes be heard giving you a clue as to the leak s location.
Corrosion moisture mould or rotted wood indicate the need of leak repair nearby.
If you hear a faint dripping sound coming from a nearby wall it could be caused by a leaking pipe.