Catch the leak early: 4 OC rental inspection checks

Catch the leak early: 4 OC rental inspection checks

Leo SteinBusiness Member
Property Manager · Orange County, CA · Member since 2025 · 113 posts · 34 votes

A small drip that sits for a month is usually cheaper as a plumber visit than as drywall, paint, and flooring. Four places we check on every Orange County rental walk:

  • Washers and under-sink lines. Cabinet floors and baseboards show slow leaks early.

  • AC drip pans. A clogged pan overflows into the ceiling below.

  • Roof and attic after the first real rain. Soft spots and new stains mean call a vendor.

  • A set inspection cadence. Same rooms, same photos, then a fast vendor call.

What else is on your routine leak walk for LTR stock?

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  • West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    14h

    Good list. Two I'd add from the leak-detection side: (5) water heater pan + TPR valve discharge line — a failed TPR valve silently dumps hot water, and pans with no drain just hide it; (6) hose bibbs and irrigation backflow — I see more 'mystery' water bills from a cracked hose bibb than from indoor plumbing. One more diagnostic: check the water meter with everything off — if the leak indicator spins, you've got a hidden supply leak somewhere. We put together a rundown of the hidden-leak signs most owners miss here: https://leakdetectionwestpalmbeach.com/foundation-leak-detection/

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