First, put down your phone and just listen. Turn off the telly and the washing machine. Can you hear a faint hissing, like a very quiet snake having a nap? That could be water escaping from a pipe.
Next, look for the obvious clues. Are there any damp patches on your ceiling that look like a map of a tiny island? What about that bit of wallpaper that’s starting to peel like sunburnt skin? These are your house’s way of waving a little white flag.
Don’t forget the floors. If a patch of laminate feels spongy underfoot, or your wooden floorboards are starting to look like a rippled chocolate bar, you’ve got a problem. A wet carpet that won’t dry out is another big, soggy clue.
