There are some leaks that should occur in the bathroom and then there are others that will make you pay out for a plumber to fix the system. A secret leak in the bathroom is one that can get bad very quickly, and there are serious plumbing issues that can be a result of a leak going on – especially one that you can’t see. A hidden leak is a problem and if you don’t get it looked at and fixed right away, you’re going to have some seriously expensive damage going on.

Below, we’ve got the signs that you need to know about that there is a hidden leak. A top-rated plumber will be able to come and get it fixed for you and they will be able to identify the issues that you’re experiencing in your bathroom. Don’t stress, though. Once you know the signs to look for, you can get out there and hire the best so that they can take care of it for you! Here are 9 signs that you are dealing with a secret leak!

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1. There’s a musty smell – and it’s getting stronger. That horrid stench is coming from somewhere and that earthy smell is one you should never ignore. It’s a very telling sign that there is a gathering of water somewhere in your bathroom. Look for the hidden leak and you’ll be able to find the musty source. 
2. You’ve spotted some creeping mold. In the areas that are the wettest and the darkest, mold grows. Sounds like the start of a horror story, doesn’t it? Well, it should, mildew can make your lungs tight and your breath wheezy. It can be hard to thoroughly clean mold, too, so make sure that you have the right mold cleaning materials. Of course, a bathroom is susceptible to mold because of its damn environment. However, there is mold that you can see and ventilation that you can create, and there’s the hidden stuff because the pipe behind the bath board is leaky!
3. The wallpaper or paint is bubbling. There’s nothing worse than spending time and money decorating a bathroom only for the leaky pipes to cause blistering in your walls. Hot showers can cause this without the right ventilation, but if you have the right ventilation, then you need to get a plumber in to take a look. Replacing the wallpaper or repainting the walls will be a big enough job as it is!
4. Your cabinet under the sink is supposed to hold your cleaning products and your things, it’s not supposed to be wet. If there is a leak under the sink, you can get rid of it with a lot of towels and a tightening of the nut on the pipework. Cabinets should be dry – always!
5. Bubbly floors? That’s a sure sign of a leak from somewhere. The key thing is to not overflow the bath and let it leak. The water can also be from a pipe underneath the floor that’s burst. If your floor is bubbling, cracking, softer, spongier or simply beginning to stain, it’s time to consider whether there is a water leak beneath the surface.
6. Your toilet feels unstable. We’ve all had a bad meal and end up on the toilet, but if your toilet is beginning to rock, the watertight wax seal may be loose. That can mean that the pipe is likely to be exposed and you may see wastewater on the floor – super ick. You need this to be tight so that your toilet isn’t going to fill the bathroom with poop water. Yep, as we said, super ick!
7. Are the faucets on the bath and sink loose? That’s a sure sign that there is a leak because the water can seep through the gaps. It’s also a good way to waste water in the house, costing you more money over time. You can avoid that by tightening the faucets yourself or calling in the plumbers
8. You’ve noticed stains on the ceilings. Perhaps not the ceiling of the bathroom itself, but the rooms beneath it. When there is a leak between the floor and the next ceiling, the patch on the ceiling is likely to appear. It can look like spreading damp and it’s not pleasant. It also causes a lot of damage to the rest of the house. 
9. You can see it! The last and most obvious sign is the pooling, pouring or dripping water. If you can see it, get it fixed as soon as possible.