Use the water meter test: locate your water meter, turn off all water-using appliances, take a meter reading, wait 1-2 hours without using water, then check the meter again. If the reading has increased, you likely have a leak. Also watch for signs like unexpectedly high water bills, damp patches, musty smells, low water pressure, or sounds of running water when everything is turned off.
Add a few drops of food colouring to the toilet tank and wait about 15 minutes without flushing. If the colour appears in the bowl, you have a leak. This is usually caused by a worn flapper valve. A leaking toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water daily, adding around £300 to your annual water bill.
Check these common leak locations: toilets (most common), taps and showerheads, under sinks and in cupboards, washing machine and dishwasher connections, boilers and water heaters, radiators and visible pipework, and outside your home for soggy patches in your garden or driveway that could indicate underground leaks.
For minor leaks like dripping taps, you may be able to fix them yourself by replacing a washer or tightening connections. For serious leaks, turn off your water supply at the internal stop tap to minimise damage and call a qualified plumber immediately. If the leak is outside your property boundary, contact your water company.
You are responsible for leaks inside your home and on your private supply pipe (from the boundary to your home). Your water company is responsible for leaks outside your property boundary on their mains and service pipes. If a leak has caused high water bills, you may be entitled to a leak allowance if you repair it within 30 days.
Book annual boiler and system servicing, check your plumbing regularly (every few months), insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas, install a leak detection device like Leakbot, and replace appliance hoses every few years even if they look fine. Regular preventative maintenance catches small issues before they become major leaks.
