Water leaks don’t always announce themselves with a puddle on the floor. Some of the worst leaks we see in Hull homes have been going on for weeks or months before anyone notices. By that point, the damage to walls, floors, and timber can be serious.
Henry has been fixing leaks across Hull and East Yorkshire for 39 years. Here are the warning signs he tells every homeowner to watch for.
1. Your Water Bill Has Gone Up for No Reason
If your usage hasn’t changed but your bill has jumped, water is going somewhere it shouldn’t. Even a small leak on a mains pipe can waste thousands of litres a month. Check your meter when no taps or appliances are running. If it’s still ticking over, you’ve got a leak.
What to do: Note your meter reading, don’t use any water for two hours, then check again. If the reading has changed, call a plumber.
2. Damp Patches on Walls, Ceilings, or Floors
Brown stains on ceilings, bubbling paint, or soft patches on walls are classic signs of a hidden leak. In Hull’s older terraced houses, we often find leaks from upstairs bathrooms tracking down through joists and showing up in the living room ceiling below.
Don’t ignore small damp patches. They grow. And once mould sets in, it’s a health issue as well as a plumbing one.
What to do: Don’t just paint over it. Get the source found and fixed first. Call 07450 332 474 and we’ll track it down.
3. You Can Hear Water Running When Nothing Is On
If the house is quiet and you can hear a faint hissing or trickling sound, especially near walls or under floors, that’s water moving through a crack or joint it shouldn’t be. This is particularly common with copper pipes in older Hull properties where joints have corroded over time.
What to do: Turn off all taps and appliances. Walk around the house and listen carefully, especially near the boiler, under the kitchen sink, and around the bathroom. If you hear it, mark the spot and call us.
4. Low Water Pressure That Wasn’t There Before
A sudden drop in water pressure usually means water is escaping before it reaches your taps. This could be a pipe under the floor, in the wall, or even underground between the meter and your house.
If only one tap has low pressure, the problem is likely local (a blocked aerator or valve). If every tap in the house is weak, the leak could be on the main supply pipe.
What to do: Check whether it affects all taps or just one. If it’s across the whole house, call 07450 332 474 so we can investigate.
5. A Musty Smell You Can’t Get Rid Of
Persistent damp or musty smells, especially in rooms with no obvious moisture, often point to a hidden leak. Water trapped behind walls or under floors creates the perfect conditions for mould and mildew to grow. You might not see it, but you can smell it.
We’ve found leaks behind kitchen units, under bath panels, and inside boxed-in pipework that had been dripping for months. The smell was the only clue.
What to do: Don’t rely on air fresheners. If the smell keeps coming back, there’s moisture somewhere that shouldn’t be. Get it checked.
What to Do If You Spot Any of These Signs
If you’ve noticed one or more of these warning signs, here’s what to do next:
- Check your stopcock. Make sure you know where it is and that it turns. If a leak gets worse, you need to be able to shut the water off fast.
- Don’t wait. Small leaks become big ones. A dripping pipe joint today can be a burst pipe next month.
- Call a plumber. We can find and fix most leaks in a single visit. Call 07450 332 474 or text us on the same number.
How Much Does Leak Repair Cost in Hull?
Most leak repairs during working hours (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) start from £178 + parts. A £90 deposit is required at the time of booking.
For more details on our rates, check the FAQ page or our leak repair service page.
Need Help Finding a Leak?
If you think you’ve got a hidden leak, give us a call on 07450 332 474. We cover Hull, Beverley, Cottingham, Hessle, Anlaby, Brough, and the surrounding area. 39 years experience. £2M insured. 12 month guarantee on all work.
Leak Repair Services | Pipe Repair | Emergency Plumber | Areas We Cover
