Totally get where you’re coming from—those hidden leaks are the worst. I’ve had a similar issue in my own place, thought everything was fine until I noticed a faint musty smell under the sink. Ended up being a slow drip that soaked the cabinet base. I like using thermal cameras too, but sometimes just running your hand along pipes or checking for soft spots on drywall can catch stuff early. Not always foolproof, but it’s saved me a few headaches. Still, there’s something to be said for having a pro take a look every couple years, especially in older houses.
I get the appeal of doing it yourself, but honestly, after tearing out a chunk of drywall just to find a tiny pinhole leak, I’m leaning toward pro inspections every couple years. I still check under sinks and around toilets for soft spots, but some stuff’s just not obvious until it’s a real problem. Thermal cameras are cool, but not always in the budget. For now, I’m sticking with a flashlight and my nose... but I’ll probably call in a plumber before I start my next round of renos.
I hear you on the drywall—been there, done that, and it’s never as quick as you think. I once found a slow leak behind my washing machine just because the cat kept sniffing around that corner. Sometimes instincts (and a good flashlight) are all you’ve got. I do like to get a pro in every few years, but I still poke around with a moisture meter when I remember. It’s not fancy, but it’s saved me from a couple headaches.
Moisture meters are underrated—saved me from a hidden pipe leak under the old kitchen floorboards once. I’m curious, do you ever open up access panels or just rely on surface checks? With these older houses, I always worry about what’s lurking behind the walls, but I also hate tearing into original plaster unless there’s a real reason.
I get where you’re coming from—cutting into original plaster is always a last resort for me, too. I usually stick to surface checks with a moisture meter unless there’s a strong reason to dig deeper. If you’ve got access panels already, though, I’d say take a peek every now and then. Sometimes you catch issues before they turn into real headaches.