Forums

Forums
Sustainable Sidetra...
DIY
Finding water leaks
 
Notifications
Clear all

Finding water leaks

 
Page 1 / 2
DIY
Last Post by Transparent 2 years ago
24 Posts
8 Users
10 Reactions
2,944 Views
RSS
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3109
Topic starter 22/02/2023 6:06 pm  

For years we've found that our water consumption was on the high side. After a lot of argy-bargy with Severn Trent they finally agreed to move the water meter into our house (which had previously been located over 1.5 miles from our house on the verge of an A-road. 

With the meter inside the house we can now monitor our water consumption. As it turns out, I think we have a leak somewhere that is losing around 400-litres a day (which, for us, is major). 

There are no obvious leaks in the house, so I assume that there's a leak somewhere under the house. 

So here's the question – is there a way that we can DIY check (or equipment we can buy/rent) for a leak to at least see where it is so that we can get it repaired?

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast


   
Quote
 Derek M
(@derek-m)
Illustrious Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 4429
22/02/2023 6:58 pm  

You could have a look at this device.

https://www.pqwtdetector.com/PQWT-L7000-Multi-Sensor-Water-Pipeline-Leak-detector-pd44173515.html

 


   
👍
1
ReplyQuote
 soniks
(@soniks)
Estimable Member Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 70
23/02/2023 12:23 am  

I would contact your home insurance company they would normally cover this with their track and track service I would have thought.  With 400 ltrs a day thats got to be a big hole.  

You could call a leak specialist out yourself if you don't want to go through insurance and some offer a no find no fee service. 


   
👍
1
ReplyQuote



Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3109
Topic starter 25/02/2023 9:54 am  

@soniks, the leak size is a guesstimate on what I’ve “measured” our consumption be versus what the metre is saying. It’s crazy we can’t see evidence of this, and I’ve mapped out the pipe work in my head, and can’t really figure out where it is. We were out all day on Wednesday and there was nothing running with water - we ‘used’ 300 litres while we were out.

The home insurance is a good idea, but not sure if they’ll accept the claim based on a meter reading and no evidence.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast


   
ReplyQuote
Morgan
 Morgan
(@morgan)
Noble Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 601
25/02/2023 11:32 am  

@editor would the 'evidence' not be the water bill given there are two persons living in a domestic property and you aren't watering your extensive farm land at this time of year.  The swimming pool isn't leaking is it? 😀

Retrofitted 11.2kw Mitsubishi Ecodan to new radiators commissioned November 2021.
14 x 500w Monocrystalline solar panels.

2 ESS Smile G3 10.1 batteries.
ESS Smile G3 5kw inverter.


   
👍
1
ReplyQuote
 Fazel
(@fazel)
Reputable Member Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 124
25/02/2023 6:20 pm  

@editor Hi

I'm sure you probably checked everywhere and tried some things. 280ml ish of water pe minute is not that much in order to be visible, there are two types of soil, one that lets water drain easily and the other doesn't. Hence no visible signs.

Given the small amount, have you tried turning off the water supply to everything connected directly to the drainage system? toilets and machinery mainly.


   
👍
1
ReplyQuote
 soniks
(@soniks)
Estimable Member Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 70
26/02/2023 2:29 am  

Could it be a faulty meter?


   
👍
2
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3109
Topic starter 26/02/2023 9:51 pm  

Posted by: @fazel
↑

@editor Hi

I'm sure you probably checked everywhere and tried some things. 280ml ish of water pe minute is not that much in order to be visible, there are two types of soil, one that lets water drain easily and the other doesn't. Hence no visible signs.

An interesting way to look at it. I’m going to seal off some taps tomorrow and see where that takes us.

 

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast


   
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3109
Topic starter 26/02/2023 9:52 pm  

@soniks, yes, there’s a possibility the meter is broken. Not sure how they’d test it, but worth raising I can’t find a leak source.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast


   
ReplyQuote



 Derek M
(@derek-m)
Illustrious Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 4429
26/02/2023 10:29 pm  

@editor

You could probably check the accuracy of your meter by taking a reading, and then filling a vessel of know volume, the larger the better, in a short period of time, then obtaining a new reading. Subtract the first reading from the second one and see how this compares with the volume of the vessel.

Try not to use any water, or try to measure the quantity of any used, whilst taking a meter reading at hourly intervals, for as long as possible. If you suspect that you are loosing 300 litres per day, then this would equate to approximately 12.5 litres per hour. If your meter reading is increasing by approximately this amount each hour, that would tend to indicate a continuous leak somewhere.


   
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3109
Topic starter 27/02/2023 10:03 am  

@derek-m, good plan. I’ll do that today and use the bath as the large test vessel tonight.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast


   
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3109
Topic starter 27/02/2023 9:45 pm  

Data collection has been semi successful today. One weird thing is that there isn’t a consistent water loss… at times it worse than others. But there’s definitely a leak. 1000%. I’m going to collect data for a few more days and post to see if anyone can identify something that may hint to an issue. 

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast


   
ReplyQuote
Page 1 / 2
Forum Jump:
  Previous Topic
Next Topic  



Share:

Join Us!

Trusted Installers

Struggling to find a reliable heat pump installer? A poor installation can lead to inefficiencies and high running costs. We now connect homeowners with top-rated installers who deliver quality work and excellent service.

✅ Verified, trusted & experienced installers
✅ Nationwide coverage expanding
✅ Special offers available

👉 Find your installer now!

Latest Posts

x Powerful Protection for WordPress, from Shield Security
This Site Is Protected By
Shield Security →