Water leak advice needed please!

foreversummer

Hi

Can I ask a quick question from you knowledgeable folk on behalf of a elderly friend of mine.

She believes she has a leak because the dial on her water meter is moving slowly. She has apparently got a neighbour to look at it for her and he says she definitately has a leak but only a slow one. He has suggested that she contacts her house insurance to ask for assistance (I believe she has Home Emergency Cover) but she doesn't think this will cover her because it is not an Emergency and she has no sign of a leak anywhere in the house or garden.

She has got trace and access on her buildings insurance. Would she be covered in any way? I'm just concerned that the insurance company would say that it is a maintenance issue rather than an insured event.

If she calls a local plumber goodness knows where he would start and what the cost would be.

Your thoughts much appreciated.

macman

You can only find out by checking the relevant policies. The excess may exceed the repair cost.
Some water utilities will fix a leak on the supply pipe for free. Check their website for info.

foreversummer

Thank you macman.

So maybe she should contact the water company first to see what they say. I saw that they are sometimes able to fix the supply pipe for free. She has a very nice blocked pave driveway. Do they normally have to dig that up?

macman

If I knew that, then I'd know where the leak is... Obviously if the leak is under the paving, then yes. But it could be anywhere, so if she wants it fixing she'll have to give them a call.
Would help if you said which water utility?

foreversummer

Tis Wessex Water.

faye1978

Hi,

I have worked for Essex and Suffolk Water. She should contact the water company - they will come and trace the leak - usually fairly promptly too (although cant speak for other water companies). If the leak is before the meter or at the meter point they will fix this. If the leak is the other side (ie the property side) they will let you know that you need to contact a plumber. Usually this is free - they dont charge - it may be worth asking when you call them.

Water companies have very strict regulations and it is in their interest to help as much as they can. It may also be worth asking about a leak allowance if the leak is quite significant.

I would not bother with the house insurance - this would only impact on her premium next year.

HTH

macman

Since the meter is moving, it's clearly not a leak upstream of the meter.
With WW, the repair should be free for a private house:

Leakstoppers

We have invested millions of pounds to reduce leakage in our water supply network.
In the past few years we have cut our leakage rate from 40% to less than 20% and are now saving millions of litres of water every day.
We want to keep leakage levels low and need your help. If you spot a leak, let us know immediately.
There are various ways to report a leak:

• Ring our Leakstoppers hotline on 0800 692 0 692 (24 hours)
• email [EMAIL="leakstoppers@wessexwater.co.uk"]leakstoppers@wessexwater.co.uk[/EMAIL]
• Use our mobile app

We aim to repair leaks promptly and to deal with those on our mains within two days and all other leaks within 14 days.
Having a leak fixed will probably not cost you a penny. We will repair or replace leaking supply pipes to all individual households free of charge.
This covers the full length of the pipe between our main and the outside wall of your property provided it does not pass under any structure.

victor2

It's not something more obvious like a toilet or water tank valve leaking is it? Would have hoped the neighbour would check for that, but you never know. If you shut off the stopcock inside the property and the meter still registers something, then the leak is between the meter and the stopcock, so could well be eligible for the free repair, probably with a bit of upheaval though.

Buzby

Agreed - only by closing off your supply and then monitoring the meter for a few hours will confirm whether the leak is upstream of the stopcock. If it stops, then there is most likely no leak, with the CH system favourite in taking its top ups.

macman

I (perhaps wrongly) assumed that internal leaks had already been checked for, since someone has been out and read the meter.
OP, where is the meter installed, (if your elderly friend has already read it)?

foreversummer

Thank you all.

The meter is just outside the gate. The neighbour turned her internal stopcock off this afternoon and the dial on the water meter stopped moving completely. They are therefore assuming it is an internal leak.

I've been working this afternoon and am going to try to get over there tomorrow morning. Any advice greatly appreciated about how to proceed.

Thanks.