How to Check for Leaks in Your Home

Leaks in your home can cause serious damage and be a real hassle to resolve. The quicker you spot them, the easier they are to deal with - so it’s important to check fairly regularly whether anything is amiss. Leaks aren’t usually obvious at first and an increase in your water bill can be the only early sign. 

Our experienced team at D A Gas, Heating & Plumbing have written the following on how to check for leaks in your home, to make the process as easy and straightforward as possible.

The best ways to check your home for leaks 

Locate your water meter chamber and collect any water on the surface with a sponge or similar, removing the polystyrene that sits on the top. 

Turn off the external stop tap then turn on a cold tap inside your kitchen or bathroom. No water should come out.

Jot down the meter reading then turn the stop tap back on.

For the next hour, don’t use any water at all, then take a further meter reading. If the reading has changed, it means water is leaking from somewhere in your home.

If the meter shows there’s a leak, repeat steps 2 - 4 but with your internal stop tap. After an hour, check the meter reading again. If the meter reading has changed it means your water leak is external. If it hasn’t it means your water leak is happening inside your home.  

If your meter reading doesn’t change at all during these checks, you can safely assume you don’t have a leak.

What to do if you discover a leak

The quicker you address a leak the better. Not only will this save you money in wasted water, it will also limit any damage the leak is causing to your home.

Contact a trusted local plumber and explain your findings and they should arrange an appointment at home to investigate further. 

Suspect a leak? We can solve your plumbing problems in Essex

At D A Gas, Plumbing & Heating, we have experience of a full range of plumbing problems, including water leaks both big and small. We serve homes across North Weald, Ongar, Theydon Bois, Epping, Hoddesdon and Broxbourne, and are happy to help customers new and old. With us, you’re in safe hands, and we guarantee a high-quality service.  You can call us on 07920 875189 or 01279 316304, email us at dave@dagas.co.uk or send a message via our website contact form.