Introduction

One of the major problems that most people face almost every year would definitely be water seepage issues. This is prominent, especially during the monsoon seasons. The combination of heavy rains and extreme heat often impacts the strength of the building which results in cracks in the building over time. This in turn if not treated in time will eventually lead to water finding its way inside and causing a very devastating effect. Any such water leak in the wall can actually create a lot of problems however the good news is that you might not need pricey repairs for the same. While you do need to stop, assess, and find the source, once you find it, it is quite easy to solve the problem. Here’s a guide on how to find that water leak in the wall while also using certain solutions to repair and prevent any such future instances.

Identifying Signs of Water Leakage

Most of the water leaks often occur due to the pinholes present in the plumbing system or due to small failures in caulking or any other exterior materials. Water also takes the easiest way towards the ground. Hence it is found that water travels through the framing present in the walls. While there are multiple ways to identify any signs of water leakage, if you are unsure you can still use a moisture meter to determine whether your moisture levels are within the normal parameters that have been set.

You can also use an infrared camera to check for any leaks behind both the ceilings and walls. Apart from these common ways to identify the signs of water leakage here are some of the signs that actually indicate whether you have water leaks in the walls.

• Musty smells
• Damp masonry
• Water-strained trim
• Mold or mildew
• Drips from the ceiling or puddles on the floor near the walls
• Wet or discolored drywall
• Uneven texture on walls

Causes of Water Leakage

There are a lot of common causes for water leakage in walls, especially when it comes to residential spaces. Here are a few common causes of wall water leakage that owners may commonly come across. This can also give you an idea and a way to identify various water leakage sources.

1. Faulty Plumbing

Faulty internal plumbing is definitely on top of the list when it comes to common causes of water leakage in walls. This can happen due to multiple years of wear and tear along with corrosion and other defective sealants. A faulty plumbing can cause water to seep in through the walls and cause water leakage in the walls.

2. Leakage in the neighboring property

At times it so happens that a leakage occurs in your neighboring properties which can also in turn cause leakage in your homes as well. This can also happen when the primary leak is ignored and causes wall leakage to get in through and hence cause leakage in your house walls as well.

3. Low quality paintwork

Low-quality paints used in housework may also lead to water leaks in the walls. This is because these low-quality paints cannot endure the condensation and humidity that occurs within the walls. They hence peel off and give an easy opening for the leaks to enter your homes. The peeling off of your house paints may also look quite unattractive and leave a water strain on your walls.

4. Leakage from pipes

Sometimes the pipes in your home tend to be defective or damaged. This is also one of the common ways through which leakage may enter the homes. Damaged pipes can be due to multiple reasons such as wear and tear, rust, and even cracks in the pipe. Pipes should hence be thoroughly maintained to ensure there are no water leaks.

Preventative Measures to avoid water leakage in walls 

Prevention is always better than cure. Well, the same applies in the case of treating water leakages. There are multiple ways in which you can easily avoid water leakage in walls. Here are certain ways in which you can take preventative measures to avoid water leakages in walls.  

Maintenance and Cleaning: 

One of the major preventative measures to avoid water leakage in walls is maintaining and cleaning your property well. Time-to-time maintenance can not only save you a lot of money but it can also save you a lot of time. It is ideal to have your plumbing checked often to ensure that your plumbing is not defective and does not create a way for leakages to enter. The appliances that use water should also be kept properly and should be kept clean to ensure there are no puddles near these appliances.

Proper Ventilation:

Ventilation is another one of the preventative measures to avoid water leakage in walls. If not done properly, moisture can set in and will eventually create cracks which act as a gateway for water to seep in and damage your property. It is also necessary to keep your place well-aired and dry at all times so that there is no settlement of moisture.  

Use of Water-Resistant Materials:

High-quality water-resistant plaster and paints are designed in such a way that they can endure condensation, moisture, and humidity in homes. This can also easily ward off any problems related to moisture and water leakage in the walls keeping your property devoid of any damages.

Repair and Solution Strategies

Finding proper solution strategies means finding out the faults and correcting them in time. Luckily there are multiple ways in which you can repair the water leakage in walls while also getting solutions that keep these problems away for a long time. Here are a few ways in which you can repair the wall water leakage.

Locating the Leak:

The initial step in addressing water leakage, focusing on identifying the source. You can use either a moisture meter or a thermal camera to locate the wettest area in the walls. Slide the moisture meter across the walls to check for the same. When using a thermal camera most of the water leaks will be registered as blue which means there is cold water being leaked through that particular area.

Water Seepage Treatment and Repairs:

When trying to correct wall water leakage, one must keep in mind that walls of various rooms may require various solutions for the leakages that occur. The first step is to find out the leak in the wall and once you have got this you can use leakage treatments to repair any damage that has occurred. However, it is also important to note that the repairs are best made when the area is dry, and hence a treatment should be done to the wet area first which is the major cause of the damage. Various methods including water seepage treatment, reapplying plasters, and building cavity walls for effective repairs.

DIY Tips for Water Leaks

If you have a wall leak, then you must fix the leak immediately. However, most of them require extensive work to be done before fixing the problem. If you find this cumbersome and want to skip the extensive process then you can follow certain DIY tips to fix water leaks some of these tips can be given as follows:

Temporary Fixes: 

Temporary fixes are a great alternative to extensive processes of fixing which probably requires a lot of time. Here are a few temporary fixes that most people go ahead with:

• Turn off the water to the house with the help of the house’s main shut-off valve. Open all taps to relieve any pressure that may be existing in the pipes.
• You can also use a vacuum to dry the area where the water might be collected. Apart from this, dehumidifiers and fans can also be used to dry the area.
• The use of sealants is also a way through which you can seal the cracks through which the water normally seeps in.

Preparation for Repair: 

Before repairing the walls where leakage is prevalent it is important to prepare it. These steps will ensure that the fix will remain strong and will not hamper your wall in the long term.

• Cleaning the area: Ensure that you clean the area where the leakage is present so that during the process of fixing, the area is devoid of any remnants of damage such as crapes or water.
• Drying the wall: To make sure there is a seamless fixing process, it is important to dry out the area before you start with the repair process.

Conclusion

Those were some of the common ways with which you can fix the damage caused by water leakage. While it is important to fix the problem, it is also equally important to find the source of the problem. Finding out the problem beforehand and taking preventative measures is the best way to move ahead. Now that you know how to find out the water leakage in walls, you can go ahead and check out Propchk for dampness inspection and help in the same.

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