Now, get on your hands and knees like a confused puppy. Look for soft spots in the floor or walls. Check under cabinets, near the dishwasher, and around the washing machine hoses. If the wood feels like wet cardboard, you’ve found the scene of the crime.
Don’t forget the little signs: peeling paint, a musty smell, or an oddly warm spot on the floor (that’s a slab leak, pal). My friend once found a leak because his cat kept staring at a wall. Cats know. Trust the cat.
The Water-Bill Heart Attack
Your water bill is the canary in the coal mine. If it skyrocketed but your showers are the same length, something’s up. Compare this month to last year’s same month. If you see a jump bigger than your mortgage payment, it’s time to act.
I once had a neighbor ignore a leak until his bill hit $400. He said, “I thought it was a gator in the pipes.” No, Dave. It was a $2 washer that failed. Don’t be Dave.
