Slow water leak

Bettie

my leak was very small too. I had to pay and hope it would be found. A couple of things I noted when looking for a leak detector company.

Some charged a fixed price to look and access the leak but didn't actually mend it.

Some charged £99 an hour minimum 4 hours of looking. Plus VAT

I went for a company to trace and access. Whether it took 10 minutes to trace or all day I paid the same price. They also mended the leak and put everything back as it was as far as possible. That was another set price if done on the same day. Plus parts..plus VAT.

I have to say I was very pleased with the company I chose.

JohnB47

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82006560#Comment_82006560

Thanks, that’s very helpful information.

Do you mind telling me what area you’re in? I’m in east Devon - looking at companies within 10 miles of Exeter.

Bettie

Bristol . Wessex and Bristol

JohnB47

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82006693#Comment_82006693

Thank you.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82006515#Comment_82006515

Wow, sensitive meter!

The top, smaller, red dial is 'litres', and the larger dial tenths-of-a-litre. Pretty sure.

The whole red section is at 991.2litres.

So, what are your two sets of readings, and over what time period?

JohnB47

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82006765#Comment_82006765

Thanks for that. Actually I could see (with the naked eye|) that the two red digits are 93, not 99 but I believe your method is correct.

But having taken readings overnight I'm now confused. Here are two images, one taken at 21:57 last night and the other at 10:19 this morning, all with the internal stop valve turned off.

My calculations seem to suggest much less water loss than expected. What do you chaps think?

For clarity, the two red digits on the earliest photo are 05 and on the last, halfway between 10 and 11.

Bettie

I filled out the form on the water boards leak detection page which gives you half an hour free search for the leak and also starts the ball rolling for the paperwork. South West do the same. https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/household/help-support/help-with-leaks

I am also on the priority register which may or may not have helped.

Meter readings…

My leak was estimated to be 10 litres per hour.

in 14 days water usage including the leak I used 3.9 which is 0.27 per day.

Without the leak same average use it's 0.06

so as a rough guide my leak was 0.21 a day

edited to correct

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82007188#Comment_82007188

Assuming last night's reading is (1749) 059.8 and this morn's is 104.5, then that would be a ~45 litre loss in just over 12 hours.

JohnB47

Thank you Bettie. I'll chase that up.

I wasn't offered a free anything when I talked to the South West Water lady - just 'you need to get an expert in' (all very pleasant and helpful of course).

Maybe I convinced her that I (sort of) knew what I was talkng about and had done all of the initial checks that the 'free' service would have done, so she didn't offer it.

WIAWSNB - yes that was my conclusion too, which is at odds with a wastage of 12 - 14 litres when measured over an hour period yesterday. Perhaps the leakage paused for a while overnight?

Still ringing round people but thanks for all of the help here.

JohnB47

Ok, I’ve got a local company booked in for next Wednesday. They do a free leak detection survey, indoors and out, then provide a quote if they confirm that there is a leak and where it is located.

Seems very reasonable.

I’m just thinking ahead now and wondering if a full replacement is worthwhile (house built in 1929). Wondering if the home insurance would cover replacement or just repair. Obviously I’ll check.