Mysterious Water Usage

[Sandra Kenny-Jones]

Hello there. I'm hoping somebody can provide me with some guidance on an issue that's been ongoing now for over 2 years! Thames Water moved my home onto a smart meter and ever since then, the daily water usage is showing that water is being used every night between midnight and 7am. On average, it's in the region of 10-15 litres per hour so a considerable amount. They have confirmed that it's definitely not a shared meter issue and are adamant that I must have something on a timer that is using water overnight, but I don't. I have a Worcester Bosch combi boiler. The hourly water readings are normal during daylight hours and there are several hours where no water is being used in the day so it's definitely not a leak. Clearly I want to try and find out the source of the problem but don't have a clue where to start. Any ideas welcomed. Thank you everyone.

 

[Chuck]

Sounds like you have a leak in your supply pipe

Last time I looked into this, the water company would pay for one repair to the supply pipe to a property. This was despite it technically being the home-owner's property. I guess that they have a water-loss via leaks target that such fixes help meet?

Anyway, worth investigating.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Last time I looked into this, the water company would pay for one repair to the supply pipe to a property. This was despite it technically being the home-owner's property. I guess that they have a water-loss via leaks target that such fixes help meet?

Anyway, worth investigating.

Depends on the water board most charge but wave the water used / over used

 

[Murdoch]

Is the clock correct? Having periods of no usage during the day does look strange

 

[SandraKJ]

Unless your internal stopcock is 'letting by' at least 10 litre per minute, which should be straightforward to confirm/rule out, your leak is between the meter and the stopcock.

It's all a bit weird as if there was a leak between the meter and the stopcock, surely this would show throughout the day. What happens is that when I'm away overnight it records zero usage of water during the day/evening but still shows usage overnight ... see image below. I was away on New Years Day and came home at 3pm. This pattern below is typical of what happens and Thames Water keep saying something must be on a timer and using water but I don't have anything that would do this. Don't really know who to get to look at it ... does it need to be a specialist do you think?

 

[SandraKJ]

Is the meter on the property boundary.

Hi there ... the meter is outside on the pavement and Thames Water have installed a new meter but still the same issue. Below is an image of the type of usage overnight - I was actually away from home - water usage overnight - nothing all day and then starts again at 11pm. I'm at a loss as to work out why ...

 

[SandraKJ]

Depends on the water board most charge but wave the water used / over used

Any idea of who is best placed to investigate? Do I need a specialist of some sort? Thames Water aren't interested as they say their obligation ends at the mains supply on the pavement. :-(

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any idea of who is best placed to investigate? Do I need a specialist of some sort? Thames Water aren't interested as they say their obligation ends at the mains supply on the pavement. :-(

Yes they should have a list to approved contractors but you want the water meter checking first as it might be faulty etc might save you a call out from a pro

 

[SandraKJ]

Yes they should have a list to approved contractors but you want the water meter checking first as it might be faulty etc might save you a call out from a pro

Thanks so much. They've already changed the meter over so it looks like we can rule out a faulty meter.

 

[Murdoch]

Hi there ... the meter is outside on the pavement and Thames Water have installed a new meter but still the same issue. Below is an image of the type of usage overnight - I was actually away from home - water usage overnight - nothing all day and then starts again at 11pm. I'm at a loss as to work out why ...

View attachment 72719

Thats really weird.

How do you heat your house and water?

Garden irrigation system?

 

[Deleted member 120897]

I’m not sure if this has been asked, and I can’t check as the site is advert crazy today. Have you checked the meter serial number with your bill is the same? I think someone could be tee’d off your main?

 

[SandraKJ]

Thats really weird.

How do you heat your house and water?

Garden irrigation system?

I wasn't home - I was away. The image shows that even though I wasn't there, I was still "using water" in the early hours of the morning. I have sometimes been away for 3-4 nights and there is NO water used between 8am and 11pm but from midnight through to 8am there is anything between 1 - 15 litres an hour. I'm baffled.

 

[SandraKJ]

I’m not sure if this has been asked, and I can’t check as the site is advert crazy today. Have you checked the meter serial number with your bill is the same? I think someone could be tee’d off your main?

Thames Water have ruled that out. :-(