Your water bill has jumped, you can hear water running when every tap is off, or a damp patch keeps coming back. Somewhere, water is escaping. The good news is that a simple test with your water meter tells you in ten minutes whether you have a leak, and roughly where it is.
Signs you have a hidden leak
- A water bill that's much higher than usual, with no change in how you use water.
- The sound of running or hissing water when nothing is on.
- Damp patches, peeling paint or a musty smell on walls, floors or ceilings.
- Water pressure that has dropped for no obvious reason.
- A warm patch on the floor (often a leaking heating pipe) or boiler pressure that keeps falling.
The 10-minute water meter test
- Turn off every tap and make sure nothing is using water: no washing machine, dishwasher or toilet refilling.
- Find your water meter. It's usually under a small cover in the pavement or front path, sometimes inside near the stopcock.
- Note the reading, or watch the small dial or flashing leak indicator. Wait 10 minutes without using any water.
- If the meter has moved, water is leaking somewhere after the meter.
- Now turn off your stopcock and test again. If the meter still moves with the stopcock off, the leak is on the pipe between the meter and your house, under the garden or path. If it stops, the leak is inside your home.
Checking inside your home
- Toilets. Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and wait 15 minutes without flushing. Colour in the bowl means the flush valve is leaking. Also check whether water is trickling into the overflow.
- Taps and showers. Look for drips at the spout and around the base and handles.
- Under sinks and baths. Feel the pipes, joints and flexible connectors. Look for water marks on the cupboard base.
- Appliances. Check the hoses behind the washing machine and dishwasher.
- Radiators and the boiler. Look for drips at radiator valves and under the boiler.
- The airing cupboard and loft. Check the hot water cylinder, tanks and pipes.
When to call a plumber
Call us if the meter test shows a leak you can't find, water is coming through a ceiling or wall, or a pipe is actively leaking. We'll trace leaks we can find by inspection and fix them. If the leak is deep inside a floor or wall and can't be found without specialist equipment, we'll tell you honestly and explain your options before you spend anything.
Water already coming through? See water leaking through the ceiling or burst pipe repair.
Common questions
How do I know if I have a hidden water leak?
Turn off all taps and appliances, then watch your water meter for 10 minutes. If it moves, water is leaking somewhere after the meter.
Is a leak outside my house my responsibility?
The pipe from your property boundary to your house is usually yours, but water companies often help with leaks on it. Call your water company first.
Can you find a leak inside a wall?
We trace leaks we can find by inspection. If it needs specialist detection equipment, we'll tell you honestly before you spend anything.