Free leak repairs

PaulBear

It seems that now is a brilliant time to check if you have any leaks or a faulty meter - here is why:

I have just had a problem with a faulty water meter - most families would not have noticed the fault even with a meter due to the high standing charges [c£80 pa] but my actual water usage went up 250%. Yorkshire Water duly replaced the old meter with a new 'radio' meter. When they sent me a revised charges letter I found that it was still high.

I checked the meter by turning the stopcock next to it off before bed and then checking it the next morning and found it had been registering 4 litres per hour so I called them out again. The engineer has been and insists that the meter is OK even though he also proved it was recording usage with the main stopcock off. His explanation was that I must have a small leak in my pipework which is causing a 'backwash' inside the meter [I know it sounds far fetched and against the laws of physics Jim!]

He has issued a section 75 on me which means I must get the repair done or they will do it and back charge me.

THE GOOD BIT:-
He also told me that Yorkshire Water [I do not know which other water companies] give you a free repair if:-
a - you are the owner and it is your main domestic residence
b - you have not had a free repair in the last 2 years
c - you house/pipework is over 2 years old.

He marked all the paperwork as eligible etc. but on reading the paperwork it says that all INTERNAL pipework is at my cost. I rang their office and they have assured me that YW have a 'relaxed policy' and all regular repairs are free at the moment so it will not cost me a penny.

If you do not have a meter, I believe that the best way to test [apart from wet patches!] is to turn your main stopcock off and use a piece of wood, one end to your ear and one end on a main pipe. You will hear the water if there is a leak, it really is still used by water companies.

The main thing to remember here is that you may get a small leak done free now but you will not be eligible for another free repair in the next 2 years [winter and freezing pipes is coming]. On the other hand I do not know how long this 'relaxed policy' will last, your gamble.

I will update when mine is sorted out.

Cardew

I think it is the policy of most water companies to offer one free repair - as a 'goodwill' gesture, not a right.

There are some exclusions, not inside the property and not if it goes under buildings or hardstanding.

deanos

Some company's are 1 free repair per property and that's it, if you have a leak 10 years in the future you wont get it repaired for free even if the property has changed hands.

mart.vader

PaulBear wrote: »

I checked the meter by turning the stopcock next to it off before bed and then checking it the next morning and found it had been registering 4 litres per hour so I called them out again. The engineer has been and insists that the meter is OK even though he also proved it was recording usage with the main stopcock off. His explanation was that I must have a small leak in my pipework which is causing a 'backwash' inside the meter [I know it sounds far fetched and against the laws of physics Jim!] (Yes- its against the laws of physics, and I believe, complete BS.) - "Backwash inside the meter" ? ? ! !

If you do not have a meter, I believe that the best way to test [apart from wet patches!] is to turn your main stopcock off and use a piece of wood, one end to your ear and one end on a main pipe. You will hear the water if there is a leak, it really is still used by water companies. (Yes it is still used by WC's, as it's a cheap well tried solution)

.

After you have shut off the main stopcock, if you can still hear a leak on the pipe, the leak must be on the part of the pipe that still has water pressure in it. ie on the Water Co's side of the valve.

If you shut the valve and the sound stops, you know, the leak must be "downstream" of the valve. Whether it is on your pipework is quite another matter, - it depends whether the meter is fitted inside your property or in the pavement.

Ask the WC to explain in detail how the meter is going round (recording usage) with the valve shut off. (one possible explanation is that the valve is not shutting off completely) If they can explain it, and it's not the valve just letting water pass, then call NASA at once, because they may have discovered a new form of energy.