6 signs that you have a leak in the bathroom

A leak in the bathroom almost never announces itself with running water. It speaks indirectly — through mould in an odd place, paint that flakes, a tile that rocks. Here are the six signs by which it is recognised, before it reaches the neighbour below.

Mould or mildew appears

You clean your bathroom regularly and look after it well. So where has this mould come from? It cannot be only the steam… and you are right. It is not.

Mould or mildew where water gathers most — in the shower, for instance — is entirely normal. But mould appearing well away from those points is a clear indicator of a hidden leak.

These members of the fungal kingdom love damp and darkness. They flourish in it, and concealed pipework usually provides the perfect conditions for them to multiply.

The paint is damaged

If you find paint blistering, you are already familiar with the next sign. We will say it again: steam is not enough to lift paint from a wall or ceiling. That result is produced by other forces.

When a leak and damp work their way through the wall, they destroy the bond between the paint and the surface. The paint swells, then peels and crumbles. The same is true of walls covered with wallpaper.

The walls or ceiling become wet

Imagine a wet patch appearing on a wall — or several — or on the ceiling, with no obvious cause. That is certainly a sign of a hidden leak.

When plasterboard is exposed to damp, it softens and swells. If the process continues long enough, it eventually breaks down. In much the worse case, when the leak reaches the ceiling, it can collapse and start dripping.

In such cases it is important to act quickly and call an experienced specialist to establish where the leak comes from. Once that is clear, you can take proper steps to stop it and then repair the damage.

The floor covering is damaged

Unless you deliberately leave litres of water on the floor, damaging the floor covering is unlikely. When the floor underfoot swells and the tiles begin to rock and creak, it may well be a hidden leak.

That leak may come from a pipe under your floor, or may have travelled from somewhere else entirely. Remember that when there is a hidden leak, water makes its own way and can surface in unexpected places. Which leads to the next point.

A stain on the ceiling below your bathroom

If you live in a house, check the ceiling adjoining your bathroom floor — you will need to go down a storey. If you live in a flat, you will most likely be visited shortly by your neighbour, with a certain fire in their eyes.

We very much hope you are not on the receiving end of that. Even so, if something similar happens, it is worth finding a specialist who will help you resolve the problem without breaking open.

A smell of standing water

Leaking pipes accumulate water, which eventually stands and begins to smell. If that smell does not go away even when you make an extra effort with the cleaning, you may have a hidden leak.

And because the water is out of sight and beyond your reach, it has no opportunity to dry. If you think you have a leak in the bathroom, do not hesitate to call us. We will respond quickly and establish with complete accuracy what is happening.

ProKanal EOOD is a leader in leak detection. Our team works with the most modern equipment, which reveals hidden leaks without breaking open. With a thermal imaging camera and infrared light we give you the full picture of the problem and clear guidance on resolving it.

They trusted us. Now it is your turn. Book your visit and forget about that leak in the bathroom.