So the house is only 5 years old, and it already seems like there are plumbing issues. I know there is definitely a leak with one bathroom shower, where water falls onto the kitchen below through a light socket (looking to get this fixed over the summer). So, we've stopped using that one and use another one now. With this second shower I've started to hear dripping sounds inside the wall on the first floor where the pipes run to the second floor. There isn't any visible water damage, I can't smell mildew or anything... so how do I figure out if there's actually a leak? Would anyone be able to understand what's going on without breaking through the drywall?

Thanks to whoever can help!!

Run water in the second shower, but COLD WATER ONLY.
Let it run for 3 minutes, no less.
Shut off water and listen for dripping noise for 5 minutes.
If you hear dripping, you may need to open up the wall behind (access panel?) the shower or the ceiling below it to chase down the drip.
If after 5 minutes you DO NOT hear a dripping noise turn on the HOT WATER ONLY.
Let hot water run for 3 minutes, no less.
Shut off hot water and listen for dripping noise.
If you hear the dripping noise now, you may have a hot water pipe that is squeezed too tight between wood or other piping.
Let us know what happens.

This test can be performed on the whole house, also. Cold water then hot water. The cold water first is to rule-out the drainage as the issue. If the dripping noise happens when only hot water is used and there is definitely no signs of water damage the pipes may be to tight, mostly with copper pipes that penetrate wood.

Cold water only on a single handle valve is just as the faucet turns on. Hot water only is all the way over to the hottest temperature. There is still some cold water mixed with the hot at this point, but the mission is to heat up the hot supply pipes behind the wall.

Hi pghplumber,

Thanks so much for your response! I did as you advised and it seems like there isn't a leak, just the other issue you described. Thanks again for your help, I'm breather a little more relaxed now. :)