I keep hearing weird dripping sounds in the walls, but can’t actually see any water anywhere. Is there a gadget or method that’s actually reliable for finding sneaky leaks? Not really keen on tearing up drywall unless I have to. Any tips?
Honestly, I’m not totally sold on those moisture meters everyone talks about. They’re decent for surface stuff, but if the leak’s deep in the wall, they can miss it. Ever tried using a mechanic’s stethoscope? Sounds weird, but you can sometimes pinpoint drips way better by ear. Thermal cameras are cool too, but they’re pricey and not always accurate unless there’s a temp difference. Sometimes old-school methods work best...
I get what you’re saying about moisture meters—they’re not magic wands. I’ve had mixed results with them, especially when the leak’s buried behind insulation or deep in a wall cavity.
Here’s what’s worked for me:
- I actually tried the stethoscope trick after seeing it on a plumbing forum. It’s surprisingly effective if you’ve got a steady hand and patience. Picked up a faint drip behind my bathroom wall that way.
- For thermal cameras, I borrowed one from a buddy. It only helped when there was a big temp difference, like you said. If the leak’s slow or the wall’s already damp, it’s just a blurry mess.
- Sometimes I just go old-school: run my hand along baseboards, look for paint bubbling, or even sniff for that musty smell. Not high-tech, but it’s caught stuff meters missed.
- One time, I used blue painter’s tape to mark spots where I thought the leak might be, then checked back every day. Not scientific, but it helped narrow things down.
Honestly, sometimes it feels like you need a mix of gadgets and gut instinct. No single tool’s perfect...
Honestly, sometimes it feels like you need a mix of gadgets and gut instinct. No single tool’s perfect...
That’s been my experience too. I’ve found that checking water meter readings overnight (with everything off) can sometimes reveal slow leaks you’d never spot otherwise. It’s not foolproof, but it’s caught a couple sneaky ones for me. The stethoscope trick is clever—never tried that, but now I’m curious. Sometimes the old “follow your nose” method works better than any gadget, especially with musty crawlspaces.
I’ve tried the water meter trick too—definitely underrated. If you’re into gadgets, those cheap moisture meters from the hardware store aren’t bad for drywall, though they can be finicky. I once used a borrowed thermal camera, but honestly, it mostly just made me paranoid about every cold spot. Sometimes I wonder if half the battle is just not ignoring weird sounds or smells in the first place.
