I've actually messed around with UV lights for leak detection, and here's the thing—plain water doesn't really glow under UV. Usually, you'd add a fluorescent dye to the water supply first, then run the water through the pipes or fixtures you're checking. Afterward, when you shine the UV flashlight, any fresh leaks will clearly glow, making them easy to spot. It's a pretty neat trick, but honestly, for everyday home use, it might feel like overkill unless you're dealing with persistent mystery leaks.
One thing to keep in mind: older leaks or stains usually won't glow since the dye wouldn't have been present back then. So, if you're trying to tell fresh leaks apart from old ones, this method can actually be pretty helpful. But without adding dye, I doubt you'd see much difference between new and old water spots under UV. You might be better off just marking suspicious spots with pencil outlines or tape and checking back periodically to see if they grow or darken...
I've tried the pencil outline trick myself, but honestly, it gets confusing if there's multiple spots close together. Has anyone had luck using moisture meters to pinpoint fresh leaks vs old stains? Seems like that might simplify things a bit...
I picked up a cheap moisture meter off Amazon last year when we moved into our first place, and honestly, it's been pretty helpful. I had the same issue—old stains vs new leaks was driving me crazy. With the meter, fresh leaks usually show higher moisture readings compared to older stains that've dried out. It's not foolproof, but it definitely simplifies things compared to the pencil trick. Worth giving it a shot if you're feeling stuck...
I've tried moisture meters too, and yeah, they're handy sometimes... but honestly, I've seen them give misleading results more than once. Had a job last summer where the homeowner swore up and down the stain was old because the meter showed low moisture. Turned out, it was a slow leak that dried quickly between rains. Ended up having to track it visually after a storm anyway. They're useful tools, sure, but I'd still trust my eyes and experience first before relying solely on a gadget.
Yeah, moisture meters can be tricky sometimes. Had a similar issue once—meter read dry, but the leak was definitely active. Ended up using painter's tape around the stain edges to track if it grew after the next rain. Simple, but it worked pretty well. Sometimes the low-tech methods save you a headache. Ever tried something like that?
