Haha, your sniff test isn't weird at all—I've done it myself plenty of times. Reminds me of a tenant who called me once complaining about a "ghostly dripping sound." Turned out to be a tiny leak behind the wall that had been going on for weeks. Tech gadgets missed it completely, but good old-fashioned detective work (and a bit of drywall cutting) solved it. Manual checks aren't glamorous, but they're worth their weight in gold when it comes to preventing bigger issues down the line...
Totally agree on manual checks being underrated. Curious though, did you patch up the drywall yourself afterward or call someone in? I've had similar situations—small leaks hidden behind cabinets or fixtures—and fixing the leak was always straightforward, but matching drywall texture...ugh. Ever tried using those moisture meters, or do you think they're just another gadget that misses the mark sometimes?
"Ever tried using those moisture meters, or do you think they're just another gadget that misses the mark sometimes?"
Funny you mention moisture meters—I have a love-hate relationship with those things. They're handy for general checks, but honestly, I've had them lead me astray more than once. I remember one job where the meter insisted there was moisture behind a bathroom wall, so I opened it up expecting a leak... turned out the homeowner's kid had stuffed wet towels behind the vanity (don't ask me why, kids are weird sometimes).
As for drywall repairs, I usually leave that to someone else. Plumbing's my thing, but drywall texture matching is an art form I haven't quite mastered. Tried it once at my own place—figured, how hard could it be? Ended up looking like a bad abstract painting. Had to call in a pro anyway, so lesson learned. Now I stick to pipes and fittings, and leave drywall to the drywall guys.
Moisture meters definitely have their quirks. I've found they're pretty reliable for initial checks, but you always gotta confirm visually before tearing into walls. Had a similar experience once—meter was screaming moisture, turned out it was condensation from a poorly insulated pipe... no actual leak. And drywall? Yeah, that's a whole other beast. Matching texture is like voodoo magic to me, too. Props for giving it a shot yourself though—at least you tried!
"Had a similar experience once—meter was screaming moisture, turned out it was condensation from a poorly insulated pipe... no actual leak."
Yeah, moisture meters can be tricky. Had something similar happen last winter. Meter kept showing high moisture behind the bathroom wall, and I was convinced we had a hidden leak. Tore open a small section of drywall (matching texture afterward was a nightmare, btw), only to find out it was just condensation from the hot water pipe running too close to an exterior wall. Ended up insulating the pipe better and sealing things back up—problem solved.
Drywall repair though...ugh. Matching texture is definitely some kind of dark art. I've tried every YouTube tutorial out there, and it still never looks quite right. At this point, I've accepted that my walls will just have "character."
Anyway, lesson learned: always double-check visually before breaking out the tools. Moisture meters are helpful, but they're not foolproof.