Now I just do a quick check every few months—takes five minutes, tops. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
I hear you, but honestly, those five-minute checks can miss stuff lurking deeper in the lines or valves. Had a client swear by his “quick glances” until a slow leak behind the wall turned into a mold nightmare. Sometimes it’s worth bringing in a pro every couple years, just for peace of mind. That said, I get not wanting to overdo it—nobody wants to pay for stuff they can’t see going wrong... until it does.
Quick checks are definitely better than nothing—honestly, most folks don’t even bother with those. I’ve seen people ignore their plumbing until water’s dripping from the ceiling and suddenly it’s a full-blown crisis. At least you’re looking for trouble before it finds you, right?
That said, I get the temptation to just do a quick once-over and call it good. But man, pipes have a way of hiding their secrets. Had a job last year where everything looked fine on the surface, but the crawlspace told a whole different story... let’s just say the homeowner wasn’t thrilled to meet their new “petri dish” under the house.
Still, I wouldn’t stress too much about not calling in a pro every year unless your house is older or you’ve had issues before. Maybe just keep an eye out for weird smells or stains—those are usually your first “friendly” warning signs. And hey, if your five-minute check catches something early, that’s a win in my book.
I’ve definitely seen water stains pop up in the weirdest places—like, you’d never guess a tiny drip behind a wall could mess up a whole room’s vibe. I’m curious, though: has anyone actually found plumbing issues while doing a design update or reno? Sometimes I wonder if moving furniture or swapping out cabinets is when you really spot those hidden leaks… or am I just paranoid after too many “surprise” mold discoveries?
Title: Home plumbing checkups: DIY checklist or pro inspection?
Yeah, hidden leaks are way more common than people think. I’ve flipped a few houses and honestly, it’s almost routine to find something lurking behind the scenes when you start moving stuff around. Here’s what I’ve run into:
- Pulled out a kitchen cabinet once and found the drywall behind it was basically mush. Tiny pinhole leak in the supply line—no visible water on the floor, but the wall was toast.
- Bathroom reno: lifted up old vinyl flooring and there was black mold underneath. Turns out the wax ring on the toilet had been leaking for who knows how long. No smell, no obvious stains, just a soft spot in the subfloor.
- Swapped out a laundry room sink and noticed the shutoff valves were corroded. Gave them a twist and one started dripping immediately. If I hadn’t touched it, probably would’ve failed eventually.
I wouldn’t call it paranoia at all. Most of these issues don’t show up until you start poking around—especially if previous owners just painted over stains or patched things up quick. Honestly, I always do a basic check before moving heavy furniture or cabinets:
- Look for any discoloration or bubbling paint on walls/ceilings.
- Check for musty smells (sometimes that’s your only clue).
- Feel for soft spots in floors near sinks, tubs, or toilets.
- Run your hand along pipes under sinks—sometimes you’ll catch condensation or slow drips.
I get why people want to DIY, but after finding enough “surprises,” I usually bring in a plumber for anything major now. It’s not cheap, but neither is replacing subfloor or drywall after a hidden leak goes wild.
Bottom line: you’re not being paranoid. Hidden leaks are sneaky and can do way more damage than you’d expect... especially if you’re updating an older place where stuff’s been covered up for years.
Couldn’t agree more about hidden leaks being sneaky. I’ve lost count of how many “quick fixes” I’ve uncovered during remodels that ended up costing way more than a pro inspection would have. Your point about previous owners just painting over stuff is spot on—sometimes you peel back a layer and it’s like opening a can of worms.
A few things I’d add to the checklist, just from my own trial and error:
- If you’ve got access, check the basement or crawlspace after running all the fixtures for a while. Sometimes you’ll spot drips or even just fresh water stains that aren’t visible upstairs.
- Listen for any hissing or dripping sounds when everything’s off—quiet house, no appliances running. Found a pinhole leak in a copper line once just by following the sound.
- Don’t forget to peek at the water meter. If it’s spinning when nothing’s on, there’s something going on somewhere.
- If you’re buying an older place, see if you can get your hands on any old plumbing permits or records. Sometimes you’ll find out half the house was re-piped... but only half.
I’m all for DIY and saving money where it makes sense, but after dealing with a rotted-out joist from a slow leak behind a tub (that nobody noticed for years), I’m with you—if there’s any doubt, call in a plumber. The peace of mind is worth it, especially if you’re not planning to gut everything.
One thing I will say: sometimes pros miss stuff too, especially if they’re just doing a quick visual check. If you’re handy and willing to poke around yourself first, you can at least flag anything weird before bringing someone in.
It’s wild how much damage water can do when it stays hidden. Feels like every old house has at least one “surprise” waiting behind the walls...
