I Think I May Have a Leak > How To Shut Off Water Properly.

scoot65

I have a Sensus (smart) water meter fitted and just past the meter there is a inline tap that I can use to shut off the water flow. I think I may have a hidden leak somewhere as I can hear a noise that usually means that the outside tap is running (this time it isn't). 

I shut off the water using the inline tap and I could still hear the noise. I'm guessing that there will be the water still in the system as it drains down. I was going to leave it shut off overnight and check it tomorrow for the sound. However I've thought......

If the house hot / cold tap water system does drain overnight, will this affect the central heating system i.e. getting air in the CH system requiring bleeding etc or is domestic hot / cold water taps and heating system too separate systems?

When the boiler was installed a few years ago the engineer stated that the house's central harrying system was a quite old 'single loop' system. Does this have any bearing on the domestic water supply / system?

Thanks.. 
   

ThisIsWeird

Your boiler should be fine and carry on working after the mains water has been shut off. The only exception to this is if it's the actual boiler system that's leaking!

The radiator single-loop - or one-pipe - system has no bearing on this. 

This noise - is it a 'hissss' in the pipe, or the actual sound of running water - eg  trickling or splashing?

FreeBear

scoot65 said:

I have a Sensus (smart) water meter fitted and just past the meter there is a inline tap that I can use to shut off the water flow. I think I may have a hidden leak somewhere as I can hear a noise that usually means that the outside tap is running (this time it isn't).  

Is the dial on the water meter slowly incrementing (with the stopcock open) ?

If so, the you do indeed have a leak somewhere. Start looking for wet patches on the walls, ceilings, and floors.

plumb1_2

Is the meter fitted internal or external?

scoot65

Many thanks for the replies. 

The noise I'm hearing is a hissing sound.

I can hear this if (from in inside the house) if I'm very near to, or have my hear to the wall which has is an outside tap on the other side of the wall (hope this makes sense). I can also hear the hissing sound if I put my ear to the radiator which is also near to this location, but in another room.  I've checked outside the outside tap is not running or visibly leaking. 

Regarding the meter, it's a digital smart meter and it's located inside the garage which is attached to my house.

Late last night the reading was 12.937 and first thing this morning before showers / baths etc the reading had increased to 12.953.....I think the toilet was flushed once or twice in-between those readings.

Do these reading look OK or has more water been used than would be expected? 

Incidentally, since yesterday I've no hot water because the boiler's ignition has gone out so I'll be calling the engineer today.......
     

scoot65

plumb1_2 said:

Is the meter fitted internal or external?

Regarding the meter, it's a digital smart meter and it's located inside the garage which is attached to my house. 

GrumpyDil

I thought you said you had turned your water off? In which case how are you having showers/flushing toilets?

ThisIsWeird

And this hissss continued after you turned off the mains stopcock? Do you have an internal s/c as well? What happens when you turn that off?

Does your boiler have a pressure gauge?

Do you have any water tanks in your loft? If yes, please go up there and check them - see if they are constantly filling and overflowing out the discharge pipe.

scoot65

GrumpyDil said:

I thought you said you had turned your water off? In which case how are you having showers/flushing toilets?

Maybe I should have been clearer,

I initially I shut off the water and then thought that this may cause problems with the central heating system i.e. air in the system requiring bleeding etc so I switched the water back on. That's when I came here to ask for advice. 

Before this morning's reading was taken the toilet had been flushed once or twice but no showers / baths taken.  

  

Robin9

Does the meter continue to advance with the inline valve turned off ?

ThisIsWeird

scoot65 said:

I initially I shut off the water and then thought that this may cause problems with the central heating system i.e. air in the system requiring bleeding etc so I switched the water back on. That's when I came here to ask for advice. 

Before this morning's reading was taken the toilet had been flushed once or twice but no showers / baths taken.  

  

Your boiler should be fine and carry on working after the mains water has been shut off. The only exception to this is if it's the actual boiler system that's leaking - unlikely.

Please tell us that you didn't leave the mains water - and the hiss - going all night?

And this hiss continues after you turn off the mains stopcock? Do you have an internal s/c as well? What happens when you turn that off?

Does your boiler have a pressure gauge?

Do you have any water tanks in your loft? If yes, please go up there and check them - see if they are constantly filling and overflowing out the discharge pipe.