Could That Strange Hissing Sound Be A Broken Water Pipe?
Posted on: 10 February 2023
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When you're sitting at home, and everything is quiet, can you hear an unusual "hissing" noise? You may imagine it's in your head, but it may get a little louder when you're close to an internal wall. Could this be a water leak, and if so, what should you do next?
Locating the Pipes
Many of the pipes that connect your mains supply to your kitchen and bathroom may be routed through the gaps between your drywalls. Usually, they will be perfectly safe in this location and will function as expected, but occasionally, issues can arise.
Why Leaks May Happen
For example, if it's been a long time since you upgraded the pipes in your property, they may have started to degrade. When this happens, they may start to pull apart at a joint, which could lead to a leak. As the water is under pressure, it will find the weakest point in the pipe and spray out instead. This can generate that tell-tale hissing sound.
The Risk of Inattention
You may not always see evidence of such a leak, but the water will need to go somewhere and could certainly lead to a lot of damage out of sight. And if you live in a multi-storey property, that damage could accumulate on someone else's property until such time as it becomes more obvious and a significant issue. In this case, you may need to replace carpets, drywall, ceiling and other assets, which could add up to an unpleasant bill.
How to Confirm Your Fears
You can find out if you have a hidden water leak by turning off the water at the mains and then taking a meter reading. Do not run the water in your kitchen or bathroom for some time, and then recheck the meter. If the meter has moved, you are using water and it's emanating from that broken pipe.
Take Urgent Action
So, if you've confirmed that there is a leaking pipe behind your drywall, get in touch with an emergency plumber as soon as possible. They will be able to use some tools to pinpoint the exact location, so they can open the drywall without causing too much damage. But, more importantly, they'll fix the pipe and assess any further action.
In the meantime, do what you can to mitigate any further damage. At the least, turn the water off at the mains until the technician arrives. For more information, contact an emergency plumber near you.