You might not notice them at first. A faint drip under the sink. A slight hissing behind a wall. A sudden jump in your water bill that doesn’t match your usage. These are the “silent siphoners” — the hidden plumbing leaks quietly wasting water, driving up costs, and setting the stage for expensive damage.
According to Mitch Brown, Master Plumber with Number One, “Leaks can turn into mold, rot, and thousands in repairs before you even know it’s happening.” In Albuquerque’s dry climate, where condensation is rare, any persistent moisture is worth investigating.
When caught early, leaks are often quick and affordable to fix. Left untreated, they can compromise structural integrity, encourage mold growth, attract termites, and ruin flooring, cabinets, and drywall. It’s not just about avoiding the cost of repairs — it’s about protecting your health, your home, and conserving water in a region where every drop matters.
Hidden household leaks rarely announce themselves with obvious puddles. More often, they leave subtle hints: a musty odor in a bathroom cabinet, a discolored patch on the ceiling, warped floorboards near the kitchen, or a warm tile underfoot that suggests a hot water line is leaking beneath the slab.
Listening closely can also help. A faint dripping or hissing sound inside a wall is reason enough to investigate.
Not every wet spot signals trouble. Condensation dries quickly and is usually lighter in color. A leak, on the other hand, leaves a persistent damp area that keeps returning — and if the leak is from a hot waterline, the surface may even feel warm. In Albuquerque, where the air is naturally dry, condensation is uncommon, so any repeated moisture is worth checking.
Older plumbing systems carry their own risks. Galvanized pipes, common in homes built decades ago, corrode from the inside out. Solder joints can loosen with age. And in many local homes, water pressure comes in at 80–110 psi — far above the ideal 60 psi — which accelerates wear and tear. Mitch recommends installing a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) if your home doesn’t already have one. “It’s like protecting your plumbing with a seatbelt,” he explains.
If you suspect a household leak but can’t find the source, try this: turn off every faucet and water-using appliance in your home, then check your water meter. If the dial is still moving, water is escaping somewhere. If you have a whole-house shutoff, you can narrow it down. Shut the water off at the house, check the meter again, and see if it’s still spinning. If it is, the leak is likely between the meter and the house. If not, the leak is inside.
Sometimes, leaks are buried so deep you’d never find them without professional tools. Plumbers use moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras, acoustical listening devices, and inspection scopes to pinpoint the exact location — often without opening up walls or floors unnecessarily.
An annual plumbing inspection is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take. During these visits, a plumber can replace aging washers and hoses, flush your water heater, and check your toilet flappers with a quick food coloring test. Mitch recommends upgrading rubber washing machine hoses and sink supply lines to stainless steel braided ones for better durability. If your home still has galvanized pipes, replacing them with modern PEX piping can reduce the risk of future leaks — and improve water flow.
Our region’s hard water speeds up the deterioration of rubber seals and leaves behind calcium deposits that can make fixtures look worn long before they fail. Winter freezes add another layer of risk, especially for outdoor spigots and crawl space piping.
A slow drip from an exposed fitting might be able to wait for a scheduled repair. But if water is near electrical wiring, flooding is occurring, or a pipe has burst, shut off your water supply immediately and call a licensed plumber.
One homeowner swore their refrigerator was leaking, but thermal imaging revealed the problem eight feet away under the slab. Another thought they had a minor drip under the bathroom sink — until the vanity rotted, mold grew inside the wall, and the drywall needed replacing.
And then there was the vacation homeowner who returned in winter to find four feet of water in the basement from a burst pipe. The simple act of shutting off the water before leaving could have prevented the disaster.
Mitch sums it up best: “It usually happens when you least expect it. Learn the signs, do the simple checks, and get ahead of it before it turns into a major headache.”
If you suspect a leak, don’t wait. Call Number One Plumbing for expert leak detection and repair — and stop those silent siphoners before they drain your day.
Drop a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank after it’s finished refilling. If the color appears in the bowl within 20–30 minutes without flushing, you have a leak.
Running toilets and dripping faucets take the top spots, with water heater connection leaks and worn washing machine hoses close behind.
Look for musty odors, staining on ceilings or walls, warped flooring, warm spots on tile, or a sudden unexplained jump in your water bill.
Condensation usually dries quickly and is lighter in color. A leak creates a damp spot that keeps returning — and can feel warm if from a hot water line.
Excessive pressure wears out fixtures, washers, and pipe joints more quickly, and can even cause pipes to burst over time.
If water is near electrical wiring, flooding is occurring, or a pipe has burst, shut off the main water supply and call a licensed plumber immediately.
Every 3–5 years. Stainless steel braided hoses are far more durable than rubber ones.
Yes — it wears down seals and washers faster, and leaves mineral deposits that can damage fixtures and fittings.
