tech is great for catching what you can’t see or forget about, but you still gotta do the basics
Couldn’t agree more—technology’s a great safety net, but it won’t fix a missed crawlspace pipe. I’d add that sometimes even the best checklist misses stuff if you don’t physically crawl around and look. I started using a thermal camera last year to spot cold spots on pipes before winter hits. Not perfect, but it’s caught a couple spots I would’ve missed otherwise. Still, nothing replaces just getting your hands dirty and checking every inch.
technology’s a great safety net, but it won’t fix a missed crawlspace pipe
That’s the truth. I’ve had my share of late-night surprises—one time, I thought I’d done everything right, sensors and all, but a tiny pinhole leak in a line behind a bathroom wall still managed to go undetected until it was basically raining indoors. Thermal cameras are handy, but they can’t see through a pile of old insulation or behind a cabinet. Ever try using one in a cramped attic? Half the time I’m just hoping I don’t put my knee through the ceiling.
I do like how tech can give you a heads-up, but I’ve found it’s easy to get a little too confident in the gadgets and let your guard down. There’s just no substitute for crawling around with a flashlight and checking every weird smell or drip. Anyone else ever find something totally unrelated while doing a “quick” pipe check? Last winter I found a squirrel stash in the crawlspace—nuts everywhere, but at least the pipes were fine that time...
Thermal cameras are handy, but they can’t see through a pile of old insulation or behind a cabinet. Ever try using one in a cramped attic? Half the time I’m just hoping I don’t put my knee through the ceiling.
That line about the attic hits home. I’ve been up in more than a few where you’re basically army-crawling, dodging nails and hoping you don’t end up in someone’s living room. Tech’s great for the obvious stuff, but it’s not magic—if there’s a pipe tucked behind a mess of ductwork or buried under blown-in insulation, you’re still stuck poking around the old-fashioned way.
Had a call last fall where the owner swore their moisture sensor would catch anything. Turns out, the leak was so slow it never triggered the alarm, but it was enough to rot out a whole section of subfloor. By the time anyone noticed, the bathroom tile was sagging like a trampoline. That’s the thing—gadgets are only as good as what they can actually reach. Missed spots are just part of the game.
And yeah, those “quick” checks never go as planned. I went under a house once to look at a suspected pipe leak and ended up finding a busted dryer vent pumping lint everywhere. No water problem at all, but the crawlspace looked like a snow globe exploded. You never know what you’ll run into down there.
Honestly, I trust my nose and ears more than any sensor half the time. If something smells off or you hear that faint drip, you gotta get in there and check it out yourself. Tech’s nice, but it’s no substitute for getting dirty and using a little common sense.
Yeah, I’m with you—tech’s only as good as what it can actually “see.” I’ve tried those fancy cameras and sensors, but if there’s a stubborn leak tucked behind a wall or under a mess of insulation, you’re still crawling around with a flashlight and your wits. Here’s my usual approach:
1. Trust your senses first—musty smell, weird noises, or even cold spots are red flags.
2. Start at the obvious spots (under sinks, near water heaters) before tearing into walls.
3. If you can’t find anything but something still seems off, check less obvious stuff—like condensation on pipes in crawlspaces or tiny drips behind appliances.
4. Don’t forget to poke at the floor with your foot—soft spots can mean hidden water damage.
I’ll use gadgets for confirmation, but honestly, nothing beats poking around yourself. Sometimes the old-school way is just faster and more reliable... even if it means getting filthy in the attic.
I’ll use gadgets for confirmation, but honestly, nothing beats poking around yourself. Sometimes the old-school way is just faster and more reliable... even if it means getting filthy in the attic.
Totally get this. I’ve had those “high-tech” moments where I’m waving a thermal camera around, but then end up on my knees sniffing the floorboards anyway. Ever notice how sometimes your nose picks up what a $300 gadget can’t? I do wonder, though—has anyone actually found a leak *just* by hearing it? I always think I hear water running, but it’s usually just my fridge making weird noises at 3am. Maybe my ears aren’t as sharp as they used to be...
