Most hidden leaks run for weeks before anyone spots them. A weeping joint behind the vanity. A toilet cistern that never quite stops filling.
The quickest way to find a water leak is the water meter test: turn off every tap, read the meter, wait 30 minutes and read it again. If the numbers moved, water is escaping somewhere on your property.
From there you narrow it down by checking walls, floors, fixtures and the yard. If it still won’t show itself, our leak detection service on the Gold Coast can pinpoint it without pulling the house apart.
Start with the water meter test
It’s the first check on any leak job, and you can do it in five minutes with no tools.
- Turn off every tap, plus the dishwasher, washing machine, irrigation and any rainwater tank pump that feeds the house.
- Find your meter. On most Gold Coast blocks it sits in a small pit in the grass verge near the front boundary. Wear gloves when you lift the lid, because redbacks love it in there.
- Write down the black numbers (kilolitres) and the red numbers or dial (litres).
- Wait 30 minutes to an hour without using any water.
- Read the meter again and compare.
If the red numbers have crept forward, you have a leak on your side of the meter. Many meters also have a small low-flow indicator, usually a little star or triangle, that spins with even a slow drip.
Next, split the problem in half. Turn off the isolation valve where the supply pipe enters the house and watch the meter again. Still moving? The leak is in the underground line between the meter and the house. Stopped? The leak is inside, and it’s time to start looking at fixtures and walls.
Signs of a hidden water leak inside the house
A leak you can’t see still leaves clues. Walk through the wet areas first, since that’s where most pipework runs.
- Bubbling or flaking paint on the wall behind a shower, or on the other side of the wall from the kitchen sink.
- Skirting boards or vanity kickboards that have swollen and feel soft when you press a thumb into them.
- Grout that stays dark hours after anyone has showered.
- A musty smell in a linen press or wardrobe that shares a wall with a bathroom.
- Tiles that sound hollow when tapped or have started lifting near the shower hob.
- Brown rings on the ceiling. Under a second-storey bathroom this usually points to plumbing. Under the roof space it’s often a roof leak instead.
Listen for the leak
Pick a quiet time, usually late at night with the fridge and air con off, and walk the house. A faint hiss inside a wall often means a pinhole in a pressurised copper line. A toilet that refills for a few seconds every 20 minutes with nobody using it has a worn flush valve or a faulty inlet valve. Plumbers call that ghost flushing, and it’s one of the most common household leaks there is.
To confirm a toilet leak, put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and leave it for 15 minutes without flushing. If colour shows up in the bowl, the seal at the bottom of the cistern is letting water through.
Watch your water bill for sudden jumps
An unexplained jump on your water bill is often the first sign anyone notices. Compare it with the same period last year rather than the previous one, because a hot summer with the sprinklers running will always look higher than winter. If your usage has climbed and nothing about the household has changed, water is going somewhere.
Leaks in the underground pipe between the meter and the house can run for months without a single wet patch showing. If that’s what you find, the council may reduce the excess charge. Its external guide on applying for a concealed water leak rebate sets out the conditions, including that a licensed plumber has to carry out the repair.
Check outside and under the house
Once the inside checks out, head outdoors. Gold Coast sandy soil soaks water away fast, so outdoor leaks can hide for a long time.
- A patch of lawn that stays greener or soggier than the rest, especially in dry weather.
- Water sitting in the meter pit or around the base of garden taps.
- Irrigation lines nicked by a whipper snipper, or dripper fittings that have popped off.
- A hot water system relief valve that runs constantly instead of dripping a little during heating.
- A warm spot on a tiled floor, which can mean a hot water pipe is leaking under the slab.
A slab leak on a hot line wastes water and power together. If your relief valve is pouring or the tank itself is weeping from the base, our team handles hot water system repairs and replacements across the Gold Coast.
When to call a plumber for leak detection
Some leaks need more than a torch and patience. Call a licensed plumber if any of these apply:
- The meter test shows a leak but you can’t find anything visible.
- You suspect the leak is under the slab or in the underground supply line.
- Water is anywhere near power points, downlights or the switchboard. Turn the power off at the board first.
- A ceiling has started to sag or bulge. That’s water pooling above it, and it needs attention straight away.
Professional leak detection uses tools like thermal imaging to spot temperature differences behind walls, acoustic listening gear to hear escaping water underground, and pressure testing to isolate each section of pipe, so the repair can start from one small access hole instead of opening up a whole wall.
For burst pipes or water coming through the ceiling, our 24/7 emergency plumbers can get someone out the same day.
If you’ve done the meter test and the red dial is still ticking over, call 0451 082 362 for a free quote and we’ll track it down for you.
How to find a water leak: common questions
How do you find a water leak that isn’t visible?
Start with the water meter test. With all water turned off, a moving meter confirms a hidden leak. Then look for secondary signs like damp paint, soft skirting boards, musty smells or a warm floor. If you still can’t locate it, a plumber can use thermal imaging and acoustic equipment to find the exact spot without guesswork or unnecessary demolition.
How can I find where my water is leaking from?
Narrow it down by turning off the isolation valve where the pipe enters the house. If the meter stops, the leak is inside, so check toilets, taps, the hot water system and wet-area walls. If the meter keeps moving, the leak is in the underground pipe between the meter and the house, which usually needs professional detection.
How can I detect a water leak in my house?
Check three things: the meter, your bill and your walls. A meter that moves with everything off, a bill higher than the same period last year, or damp patches near bathrooms and the kitchen all point to a leak. Food colouring in the toilet cistern is a quick way to rule the toilet in or out.
Can a hidden water leak cause mould?
Yes. Water trapped inside a wall cavity or under flooring stays damp for weeks, and in Gold Coast humidity mould can start growing within a couple of days. A musty smell in a cupboard next to a bathroom is often the first sign. Fixing the leak early stops the mould spreading and protects the timber framing.
Who is responsible for a leak between the meter and the house?
The property owner is. Anything on your side of the water meter, including the underground supply line to the house, is your responsibility to repair. Leaks on the street side of the meter are the council’s to fix. If your repair is done by a licensed plumber, you may be eligible for a reduction on the excess water charge.
