Leaks in our water systems can wreak havoc within our homes and waste a lot of water, and money, very quickly. If you’re unsure whether you’ve got a leak, there are several steps you can take to check before calling out the professionals.
There are six quick and easy steps that can be taken to figure out if a leak is occurring within your home. The steps are:
- Open the meter chamber, remove any polystyrene on the top of the meter and dry up any surface water that may have collected beneath the chamber (a sponge can be used for this).
- Ensure you are looking at the correct water meter by isolating the water from the external stop tap and turning on the tap inside the property. If there is no water, this is the correct meter.
- Turn the water back on via the meter and make a note of the current reading.
- Do not use any water within the next hour, including flushing toilets, taps and showers. Return to the meter after an hour and take another reading. If the reading has changed, water is escaping from somewhere, indicating a leak.
- Find out where the leak is coming from, turn the water off via the internal stop tap. Wait around an hour and take another reading. A change in the reading will indicate that water is leaking externally, whilst no change will indicate the water is leaking internally.
- If the water meter readings have remained the same throughout this process, it indicates that no water is escaping and there are no leaks throughout the property.
Water meter readings that are increasing without using water are not always down to leaks. Within older properties or where the living arrangements have changed, for example a conversion of a house to flats, there may be a joint or shared water supply. This means that rather than indicating a possible leak within your property, the water meter reading could be increasing due to water being used by a neighbour.
Many people don’t realise the extent of the hazards a simple water leak can entail. Mould is one of the most common problems cause by leaking pipes and can occur under sinks and in walls. Moisture can help mould to grow in as little as 24-48 hours.
Pipe leaks can also lessen water pressure within the fixtures of our home, including showers, toilets and taps. However, a low water pressure is also a symptom of a blocked pipe, so it’s important to check for leaks using the steps above.
If you’ve found a leak within your home and want to give fixing it a go, there are several things you can do. For example, you can purchase several products including set repair putty, leak spray, silicone tape and more. However, these are likely to fix the issue in the short-term, rather than solving the problem.
For a more permanent solution, why not get in touch with the team at We Love Drains? We’d be more than happy to locate your leaks and ensure the problem doesn’t arise again. For more information, get in touch via our contact page or by calling us on 0800 849 8099.
