Water leaks
Whether it's a dripping tap or a cracked pipe, water leaks are
annoying at best, and can cost you a lot of money if they're not fixed
straight away.
Dripping taps
The most common kind of water leak is a tap that just won't turn
off. Even a slowly dripping cold water tap can waste up to 20,000
litres of water a year!
Most tap leaks are quickly detected thanks to their annoying
sound, but wet areas around taps and hot water systems are also
evidence of a slow leak.
In most cases, the leak can be fixed by replacing the washer in
the faucet. Just don't forget to shut the water supply off first!
|
 |
Underground water leaks
The most serious water leaks are usually caused by aging pipe
work underneath your house. These leaks are invisible to you and can
waste thousands of litres a day!
Detecting underground water leaks
You can use your water meter to detect otherwise invisible leaks
around your home.
First, ensure no water is being used in your house or garden.
Turn off all taps and water-consuming appliances (dishwashers,
washing machines, automatic watering systems etc), and make sure
no one uses the toilet.
Then, take a look at the reading on your water meter. Wait a few
minutes and see if the number changes at all. If the dials have
changed position, then there is a leak in your water system.
To calculate how many litres are being wasted, divide the
difference between the first and second readings by the number of
minutes between readings. The result is the number of litres wasted
per minute. For example, 20 litres passing through the metre in 5
minutes equals 4 litres per minute, or 5760 litres a day.
What to do if you have a water leak
If you have an underground water leak you should get it fixed by
a qualified plumber as
soon as possible.
Click
here for quotes from service providers
