Look and smell
Bubbling or flaking paint, faint tide marks, discoloured grout, swollen skirting boards and a persistent musty smell are often the first visible signs of water where it should not be.
Listen and compare
A water meter that moves when all taps are closed, unexplained increases in water bills, or a room that always feels more humid than others are also worth noting.
Act early
Hidden water damage usually gets worse and more expensive with time. Documenting what you see, with dates and photos, helps an investigator understand the pattern.
