Signs of Hidden Water Damage

Brown rings that grow after rain point to the roof. Stains under bathrooms point to plumbing.

A damp smell in closets, the basement or rising from floor vents means moisture somewhere.

Cupping wood, lifting vinyl, soft spots near toilets and tubs.

Bubbling paint, swollen baseboard, stains below windows.

Constant condensation, wet sills and peeling paint around frames.

Turn off all water use and watch the meter. If it moves, water is flowing somewhere.

Dark stains on the roof deck, damp insulation, daylight around vents.

Standing water, wet insulation, dark spots on joists.

Overflowing gutters, moss on the roof, soggy ground by the foundation.

Stop the source if you can and have the area checked with moisture meters. Early drying prevents mold; see structural drying.

Check under kitchen and bathroom sinks with a flashlight every few months. Look for drips, warped cabinet bottoms and stains. Slow drips here are among the most common hidden leaks.

Gaps in caulk and grout let water behind tile every time you shower. Loose tiles, a soft floor by the tub or a stain on the ceiling below are signs water has reached the structure.

Pull out the refrigerator, washer and dishwasher once a year if you can. Look at hoses, the floor and the wall behind them. Swollen flooring or stains mean a slow leak.

A bill that jumps without a reason is worth a closer look, especially if irrigation is off for winter.

More insects or mice than usual can point to moisture in the crawl space or walls.

Listen for running or dripping water when the house is quiet. A toilet that refills by itself is leaking at the flapper.

Each season, take a quick walk with a flashlight through the attic, crawl space and under sinks. Note anything new with a photo.

Look at the garage ceiling under any bathroom or laundry room above, and along walls where water lines run. Stains, sagging or peeling texture are signs of a leak.

Feel carpet along exterior walls, look for white chalky marks on concrete, and check around the water heater and any sump pit. A dehumidifier that fills faster than usual can also point to a moisture problem.

Swollen door frames, sticking doors in winter and stains on thresholds can mean water is getting in around doors during wind-driven rain.

A provider with moisture meters and a thermal camera can confirm a hidden leak without tearing open walls. Early drying prevents mold and keeps repairs small.

After each big winter storm, take a flashlight into the attic. Look at the underside of the roof deck around vents, the chimney and valleys. Dark stains or damp insulation are early warnings before anything shows in the ceiling.

In late winter, when the ground is wettest, look in the crawl space for standing water, sagging insulation and dark spots on joists. Take a photo to compare next year.

Smell is often the first clue. If one room smells damp and the others do not, look under, above and behind that room first.

Thick moss on the roof is not a leak yet, but it lifts shingles and holds water. Where moss is heavy, check the attic below after storms.

Stop the source if you can, take photos and call. A provider can confirm the moisture with meters, dry the area and tell you whether anything needs to be opened.

Check the ceiling below each bathroom for faint rings or small bubbles in the paint. A slow leak at a toilet seal or shower drain often shows here first, long before the floor above feels soft.

Look, smell and listen once a season, in the attic, under sinks and in the crawl space, and act on anything new.

Older homes on the Eastside, South Capitol and Westside have more places for water to hide: plaster walls, old built-ins, partial basements and crawl spaces. Give them a slightly longer look each season, and pay close attention after the first big storm of the year, when hidden leaks often show themselves.

Found a sign? Call (360) 325-8833 before it grows into a bigger repair.

Check the attic and crawl space after big storms and walk the house with a flashlight each season.

Questions about signs of hidden water damage? Call (360) 325-8833 to reach a local Olympia provider, 24 hours a day.