Water Leaks
Water leaks can be expensive. The costs are not just in the waste of lost water but resulting damage to your home and contents. You can have leaks in any part of your plumbing system: at the meter, through pipes, at connections, toilets, taps, hot water cylinders, and/or appliances. The trick is to try to limit the risk of a leak occurring, identifying the fault earlier if it does occur, and to fix the problem promptly and properly.
Limit the risk
There are a variety of ways a leak can occur, and there are preventative steps that you can take. Firstly, replace suspect pipework. For example, if you have old Dux ‘Qest’ piping in your house get rid of it (see article on ‘Dux Qest Pipe’). Secondly, call a licensed plumber and have a pressure test done to make sure that the system is not exposed to undue stress (see our article on ‘High water pressure’). Thirdly, it is a good idea to know how to isolate the water flow into your house in case of an emergency (see our article on ‘Isolation valves’). If you need expert help with any aspect of risk prevention call SEAL Plumbing & Gas.
Identify leaks
You can identify leaks yourself. Compare this month’s water bill with previous months usage. There can be seasonal variation, but a sharp jump is unusual. If this happens something could be amiss.
There are also circumstances where the leak is less obvious, such as a long term steady leak from a buried watermain. You can find these yourself by checking your water meter, noting the numbers on it and then after some time of not using any water check it again to see if the numbers have changed. If the numbers have changed then you most likely have a leak.
If you want to ‘zero in’ on your leak here are a few tips..
Toilet cisterns – leaks from toilets are not always easily seen but can sometimes be heard as a constant hissing sound. Here are a couple of quick tests to identify a problem:
1. if the toilet has not been used for a while the inside top of the pan should be dry, throw a piece of toilet paper here, if it becomes wet the cistern is running on;
2. put food colouring in the cistern and without flushing, if the colouring appears in the bowl there may be a leak.
Toilets can be tricky to repair it is best to call the experts at SEAL Plumbing & Gas. For more information also see our article ‘Working on Toilets’.
Hot water cylinders – water leaks from cylinders can drastically increase your water and power bills. They can also cause serious damage to adjacent property. If there is pooling of water near or on your hot water cylinder it should get inspected by a licensed plumber as there may be a leak coming from the valves, fittings, and/or the tank.
Taps – leaks from taps can be seen and sometimes heard by dripping, by water appearing around the base of the fixture and/or under the sinks. Outside taps should not be ignored, investigate any signs of dampness around hose taps that should not be there. (NB. be sure to turn the hose off at the tap and don’t rely on the hose nozzle faucet).
Appliances – checking periodically under appliances for any water pooling is recommended as dishwashers, washing machines, air conditioners and fridges with ice makers will all be connected to your water supply. Loose connections and damage to pipes can cause water leaks which can increase your water bill, affect the appliances and their surrounds.
Leaking pipes – check for signs of water leaks by looking for dampness within and outside the property. Signs of leaks from house piping may be mouldy walls or ceiling, uneven flooring, the sound of water running when it is not being used. Also, check for leaking pipes under the house.
Watermain - if there are puddles outside that seem unusual or surprisingly lush sections of lawn in summertime, there may be a leak in your watermain. If you suspect a long-term leak from a buried watermain, the licensed plumbers at SEAL Plumbing & Gas can do a pressure drop test to confirm if this is so. They can organise leak detection services to pinpoint the leak and advise whether the problem pipe should be patched or replaced. (see our article on ‘watermains’)
DIY may not be your thing.
If you need a hand - call SEAL Plumbing.
Repair promptly
Finding & Repairing - If you have a water leak, do not ignore it as it will likely get worse and it can cause serious damage to your property.
You can change washers yourself by buying a kit at your hardware store. Care must be taken though not to damage polished chrome finishes when unthreading modern designer tapware. Use an experienced plumber if you don’t want to risk it.
Use skilled licensed tradesmen to fix your plumbing system promptly and properly. As a bonus, by using a licensed plumber you may be eligible for a rebate from Watercare. If you have a water leak, Call SEAL Plumbing and Gas, we can help.