Honestly, I’m right there with you—tech is handy, but you can’t skip the basics. Here’s my go-to routine: once a month, I check under every sink and around toilets for any dampness or weird smells. I also look for bubbling paint or warped baseboards, especially after heavy rain. If your water bill jumps but you can’t see a leak, shut off everything in the house and check the meter—if it’s still spinning, there’s definitely a problem somewhere. Thermal cams are cool, but nothing beats getting your hands dirty and poking around. Sometimes it’s the stuff you notice just by being nosy that saves you from a big headache later.
That’s super helpful, thanks. I always wonder about stuff inside the walls though—like, if there’s a slow leak in a pipe you can’t see, how do you even catch it before it wrecks the drywall? I’ve heard of people using moisture meters, but are they actually worth it for just one house? Or is it mostly about just watching for the subtle signs?
Honestly, I get where you're coming from—hidden leaks are the worst kind of surprise. I’ve used a moisture meter a couple times and it helped me catch a sneaky leak behind my bathroom wall. But honestly, most of the time I just keep an eye out for weird paint bubbles, musty smells, or baseboards warping. If you’re not super paranoid, just being observant usually does the trick. Moisture meters are handy, but maybe overkill unless you’ve got a real reason to suspect something’s up.
I’ve used a moisture meter a couple times and it helped me catch a sneaky leak behind my bathroom wall.
I get the point about just watching for “weird paint bubbles, musty smells, or baseboards warping,” but in my experience, by the time you notice those signs, the leak’s already done a fair bit of damage. I’ve had tenants swear they didn’t notice anything until the drywall was mushy. Moisture meters might seem like overkill, but compared to ripping out walls later, I’d rather spot something early. Sometimes a little paranoia pays off in this business…
Moisture meters are definitely handy, but I’ll admit I don’t use mine as much as I probably should. I usually do a quick check for these:
- Water bill spikes—sometimes that’s the first clue.
- Listen for faint dripping or running behind walls (easier at night when the house is quiet).
- Run your hand along suspect areas—cold spots can mean moisture.
I get the “paranoia pays off” thing. After finding a slow leak under my kitchen sink that had been going for who knows how long, I’m way less trusting of just my eyes and nose. Sometimes you gotta channel your inner detective... or just trust the gadgets.
