What is happening to my house ?

Question

My doube brick walls inside my house where the hot water pipe runs in between have suddenly become very hot and caused the paint to bubble. It trails outside to my gas hot water heater.

Does it sound like a pipe is leaking or broken inbetween the walls ?

Answer 1

IF you had a pipe leaking then you would see signs of moisture.  You see paint bubbling trails.  What is the temperature of the hot water heater.  You certainly have something wrong, but maybe it is something you did to cause it.  Check the temps.

Answer 2

Yep it sure does. It could be what the other answers are suggesting but if you look for signs that would be apparent when you do a few simple tests.   1. First you have to establish if you have a water leak and the only way to do that , if you have limited resources, is if you turn off every tap in your house make sure nothing can pass water even your reticulation make sure it is off. Then you go outside to your water meter and check it, go out for a coffee or better yet go over to a mates place for the night . If the meter moves you definitely got a water leak. If not make sure you don't have any rainwater getting into your wall cavity this will also cause this to happen, cos the pipe will heat up the water in the wall and cause the same effect(ALTHOUGH I HAVE COME ACROSS THIS SELDOM) It will probably be temperature related , check your gas/elec heat setting.. good luck

Answer 3

maybe the hot water is set too high