Orlando’s year-round humidity can wreak havoc on more than just your hair. Over time, high humidity levels can worsen the impact of hidden water leaks around your home. Exploring why humidity causes so much damage in a short time helps you see why identifying leaks early makes a big difference in the outcome.
Quick Takeaways
•Leaks in highly humid areas are more susceptible to faster mold growth and wood rot than ones in dry environments.
•Many leaks go on undetected behind walls, beneath floors and under slab foundations for long periods of time.
•Professional leak detection is your best defense for protecting your home in Florida’s hot, humid climate.
What Makes Hidden Water Leaks Such a Big Problem?
With water leaks, the concept of out of sight and out of mind never applies. A hidden water leak is one that occurs outside of your normal line of sight. Water could leak from pipes that are located behind the drywall or under the flooring. Your home could even develop a hidden leak under the foundation or in the ceiling.
Since you won’t necessarily see water pooling on the floor, a small hidden leak could go on for months or years. By the time you notice the signs, substantial water damage could be occurring silently the whole time. We often find hidden leaks that require major repairs to mitigate the damage.
Why Does Orlando’s Humidity Make Leaks Worse?
At first glance, you would think a leak can only cause as much damage as the water allows. But, a leak that happens in a humid environment can be worse due to several factors that include the following.
Humid Air Promotes Rapid Mold Growth
Mold spores need warm, moist conditions to thrive. Unfortunately, our plumbers can tell you that mold can start growing in as little as 24 to 48 hours in Orlando homes.
If mold growth impacts your home’s indoor air quality, then you could face health issues that include allergies, asthma and respiratory illness.
Wood and Drywall Act Like Sponges to Soak Up Water Fast
If you lived in a dry climate, then moisture might be less likely to build up. But, high humidity levels could already keep building materials slightly moist.
Once you add a water leak, the prolonged dampness can lead to rot. Weakened walls and sagging floors are just a few of the common issues that happen once moisture from a leak can’t evaporate.
Musty Smells Linger and Air Quality Diminishes In High Humidity
Feeling like your house smells musty when you walk through the front door is not a good sign. A hidden leak can create a musty smell that lingers, even when you open the windows to air the house out. Mold spores and mildew can also impact the indoor air quality to the point that you feel ill while spending time in your house.
Where Are You Most Likely to Find Hidden Leaks in Orlando Homes?
Some hidden leak locations are easy to guess. Naturally, you might expect to find drips happening underneath and behind sinks in the bathroom and kitchen.
Other hidden leaks could happen near the hot water heater or AC unit as condensation builds up. Pipes that run through crawlspaces and attics can also leak in places that you don’t normally go to in your home.
What Signs Serve as Hints That You Have a Hidden Leak in Your House?
You can watch for a few signs that should send alarm bells going off in your mind. Noticing these issues should send you running to schedule a plumbing inspection with one of our techs.
•Receiving a shockingly high water bill
•Feeling random damp spots on floors or seeing them on ceilings
•Noticing warped wood or bubbling paint
•Detecting musty smells or finding moldy patches
•Being disappointed by reduced water pressure
What’s the Real Cost Associated with Ignoring Hidden Leaks in Humid Climates?
So, you might be wondering what the point of worrying about hidden leaks is when your Orlando home is already filled with moist air. The reality is that allowing a leak to continue can lead to these serious issues.
•Facing an increased risk of complicated mold remediation and repair
•Being denied insurance claims if the damage is considered preventable
•Dealing with permanent structural damage
•Opening the door up to pests such as termites and cockroaches
How Do Your Plumbers Find and Fix Hidden Water Leaks?
Our plumbing technicians can use a variety of techniques and tools to uncover hidden water leaks. While we get busy doing our detective work, you might notice us using or recommending the following strategies.
1. Using Non-Invasive Technology for Leak Detection
Modern technology makes leak detection easier by allowing us to use infrared imaging, moisture meters and acoustic sensors to find water drips without tearing apart our home.
2. Doing Targeted Professional Repairs
Our plumbers never just throw a wrench at a problem and hope it works. Instead, we’ll use our findings to plan strategic repairs that work. We might recommend pipe replacement or rerouting to correct leaks from damaged pipes.
We can also suggest drywall and flooring restoration to eliminate soggy materials. Doing moisture removal and cleanup helps restore your home’s safety faster.
3. Offering Prevention Advice and Ongoing Monitoring
Once a home has a hidden leak, it could easily happen again. We’ll offer personalized suggestions for reducing moisture in your home. We can also set you up with water sensors and regular plumbing inspections to catch minor issues before they spread.
FAQs
Finding fast solutions to major plumbing problems is what we do best, and these answers can help clear up any lingering questions you may have.
Can Florida’s humidity genuinely make leaks get worse?
There’s a price to pay for living in close proximity to the beach, and humidity absolutely can slow down evaporation and speed up mold growth, rot and decay.
What is the most common sign of a hidden water leak in Florida houses?
We tend to recommend keeping an eye out for several signs of moisture that include musty odors, high water bills and soft spots in the floor.
How long do I have before mold starts to grow?
Mold growth can start in as little as a day, which could mean it’s already a problem by the time you detect the leak.
Can I prevent leaks from ever happening in the first place?
Not completely. But, you can work with us to plan regular inspections and water pressure checks that help reduce the risk of one happening.
Don’t Risk Having a Hidden Leak Destroy Your Beautiful Orlando Home
Do you suspect you might have a leak hiding behind your home’s walls or beneath the floors? Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Orlando is here to help.
Our punctual plumbers will arrive with advanced detection tools to find leaks fast in Orlando, FL and the surrounding communities. Our leak detection services are known for finding even the tiniest, hard-to-find leaks to halt moisture damage at its root.