When there is water damage inside the house, you have to be vigilant and pay attention to the root cause.
Each situation is unique and it’s common for this to happen with older properties.
The first step is to determine what is causing the water leak between floors.
A water leak between floors can be caused by a burst pipe, flooding water-based fixture (i.e. sink/toilet), or moisture trapped under the flooring. To fix the issue, remove the carpeting, use a water leak detector to spot the problem area, fix the plumbing issue, and dry out the flooring.
Remember, if you don’t do this, it’s possible the flooring will deteriorate.
You are also going to have issues with mold as the moisture settles in. This gets worse when there is carpeting over the top of the floor where water is leaking.
To make sure things are taken care of, it’s important to check the water leak between floors. This guide will showcase what to do when water is leaking through the floor.
Best Water Leak Detector (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
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Steps To Fix Water Leak Between Floors
1. Remove Carpeting Or Rug
You will want to start by removing the carpet and/or rug.
The goal is to see what is going on at the foundational level of the flooring. This is only possible when you remove the carpet that is sitting on top.
Most water leaks only go to the main part of the floor rather than pushing through the carpet. It often requires a substantial leak for that to be an issue.
IN most cases, you will only notice small puddles coming through the carpet. This is a warning sign things are about to get worse.
Your goal has to be to remove the carpet and see what’s going on underneath immediately.
2. Use Water Leak Detector On Surface
Now it is time to find the source of the water leak.
You will want to take out a water leak detector like the one mentioned above. The idea is to see where the water leak is and then begin to work on the plumbing issue.
For the most part, you will want to press the water leak detector against different parts of the property. This can include looking at both levels of the property for a better read since there’s a water leak between floors.
Look into these details and then start focusing on finding a solution.
Most water leak detectors are quick to pick up these leaks.
3. Strip The Flooring To Spot Leak
If there’s water leaking from an upstairs bathroom to downstairs, you have to strip the flooring to spot the leak.
You might have to head to the upstairs bathroom to see where the water is puddled. Unfortunately, sometimes it is the pipe that has burst, which will be behind the wall.
The water leak detector can be a good fit for finding out when things are bad behind a wall or under the flooring.
Strip the flooring once your water leak detector has given a reading. You might also be able to tell with a visual inspection of the second floor above.
4. Fix The Plumbing After Following Water Trail
You are going to have to fix the plumbing issue.
This might be something as simple as an overflowing toilet or a damaged seal running along the bottom of a sink.
It depends solely on your situation.
Find the leak using the water leak detector and then correct the issue as soon as possible. Until then, you might also want to turn off the water supply in the house to nip the problem in the bud for now.
5. Dry Water On The Floor
You will want to make sure to dry the floor as well.
This is the only way to avoid a situation where moisture gets trapped under the carpet even when you have fixed the root cause.
Take a hairdryer to do this and make sure you are meticulous with how you clean up.
What Happens When Water Comes Through Floor?
When water comes through the floor, it can lead to mold and/or significant water damage under the flooring. To fix the issue, spot where the leak is, fix the plumbing issue, and dry out the flooring as soon as possible.
This is the only way to fix the problem before it spirals out of control.
Final Thoughts
These are the details to focus on if there is a water leak between floors.
If there’s a water leak between floors, this means a plumbing fixture has started leaking above. To fix the issue, remove the carpet, use a water leak detector to find the root cause, fix that specific plumbing issue, and then dry the flooring using a hairdryer.
This will help fix the problem and make sure mold doesn’t become a new issue to deal with under the carpeting.
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