Increased usage and perhaps a tiny leak

JayMNa

For years my average daily usage has been 65 litres, starting this year it jumped t 75-80 and has stayed there. I haven't started taking showers more often so I checked the Elster water meter on the road. I even closed the toilet valve, toilet doesn't leak water by the way.

Slow flow indicator showed 9 small notches in 15 hours which is 18% of a 0.1L. Based on the hours pro rata I calculate just under 30ML ie a small whisky shot-ful per day lost.

This is practically nothing and I haven't changed my usage habits. I take the readings every 12th of the month.

My query is, as I have the central heating on and I know some radiator pipes are quite close to water pipes under the flooring because cold tap water runs a bit warm for a while when heating has been on. Can water evaporate due to this?

In any case it is not causing the increased average usage.

Rodders53

Water cannot evaporated from a sealed, closed pipe.  It can leak from poorly made joints and past valves (dripping taps, ball valves etc.,.).

CH and HW sealed or vented?  Feed and expansion tanks can/will evaporate a bit but no reason for that to be any different year on year.  Ditto from a WC cistern valve.

Boilers and some HW tanks have safety pressure release valves that can 'let by' after having operated; but only when 'operating' (being heated).  CH boilers will then lose pressure and may stop working if so.

Have you changed any appliances (washing machine, washer-dryer, dishwasher) or their use that could account for a difference?

NB Even at 75l per day you are 50% of the national average single person use.

fatbelly

I'm thinking as above.

What else might have changed at the start of the year? New shower? New dishwasher/washing machine?

It could just be as simple as you're using the loo more.

Your usage is very low and 10 litres is like one washing-up bowl.

JayMNa

Yes,I see your point, and I'm not worried, this all is very miniscule and more like a curiosity than a worry.

I have a combi boiler and haven't bought anything this year that would use more water than before.

Anyway, thanks for your ideas, who knows, I might be one of those sleepwalking shower-takers...