Checking for hidden water leaks in your home is pretty easy and it is very possible that you have one in your house. Turn off all appliances that use water, go outside and take note of what your water meter says, and leave the appliances off (do not use any water at all) for at least one hour. After the hour is up, check the water meter again to see if the reading has changed. If it has, you probably have a leak.

Check underneath your dishwasher to see if the line that goes to it from the water pipes are not leaking. If there is standing water near the base of the dishwasher, you have a leak. Another way to check for leaks here is to check if any of the materials around the dishwasher are discolored or warped in any way.

Your refrigerator is often a culprit of water damage, as well, especially refrigerators with built in ice makers. Sometimes the line to the ice maker bursts or ice builds up near the bottom of the door and keeps it from shutting all the way, resulting in items in your freezer thawing. Make sure the line to the ice maker is connected firmly and does not leak.

Sinks often need to be re-caulked around to prevent water damage under the sink and on top of the counter.

In the bathroom, soft spots in the floors near the edge of the tub or shower along with discoloration is a sure sign of water damage. Re-caulking where the walls meet the floor or where the walls meet the tub can help solve the problem. If you have tiled areas in your bathroom, cracks in grout or areas where it is missing can also cause damage.

The overflow of toilets is an obvious cause of water damage, even if it does not happen that often. Putting too much toilet paper into toilets or other objects into the toilet can cause it to back up.

Deodorants that hang inside the toilet bowl are something that causes blocks in the plumbing, can block the line completely, and if it is chlorine-based, can cause the pipes to rust and lead to an additional leak.