L
Logan1981
Hello. I returned home yesterday to find an Anglian Water engineer had put a card through our door explaining that due to a substantial increase in meter readings from last, they suspect there is a leak. I called Anglian Water back and they confirmed the engineers visit and findings and asked me to complete a couple of tests.
Firstly, after removing the circular lid to the meter, I noticed it was flooded with water, about 3 inches above the surface of the meter face. I thought this was a bit unusual given we've had the hottest weather in the UK for the last four weeks plus.
Anyway, I observed the meter and noticed that whilst the numbers weren't increasing before my eyes, certainly the center black dial was rotating slowly and at least one other dial, the needle moved slowly. I thought this a bit odd as we were not using any water in the house.
I turned the supply to the meter itself off and observed the meter readings. The dials stopped moving. I left this for half an hour and returned, there was no change. I switched the supply to the meter on again and took a reading, the dials started to move again.
I then turned the supply to the house off and observed the reading. The dials again, stopped moving. I left it half an hour, no change. I turned the tap back on again and sure enough the dials began to spin, at a faster rate (not so much that the numerical digits were increasing before my eyes). I left it a further half an hour and returned to the meter. Still the dials were spinning, but at a much slower rate this time.
So it appears the dials are continuously spinning, and I guess day by day the numbers are also increasing. I looked at our last three bills which we get every 6 months. The last three bills, we were only using on average a volume of 30-40m3. The estimate at the time of last bill was 1830. Six months on from that bill and the reading on the meter is 2139. That's at least 300m3 increase in six months.
So it would appear, that I have a leak, somewhere. The trouble is, I have no idea where, and I don't know where to begin looking. We have noticed no dampness in either the floors, ceilings or walls and there are no leaking taps or toilets. Our upstairs toilet was broken for a few weeks, and was contantly trickling water into the pan. I fixed that. Surely that would not have consumed 300m3? The only oddity we did notice was a strange smell in our hallway around Christmas time, early 2010 occasionally, like a musty smell, which we put down to the rain, as it only seemed to occur when it rained.
My question, I guess, is two fold. Where and how do I start looking for a leak? And would water in the meter chamber, during our hot weather, be some sort of clue as to where the fault lies (with us, or Anglian Water)?
Thanks for your time and help. Much appreciated.
EDIT: I spoke to Anglian Water again today, and after my test results, they are confident its a leak that is our problem. They put me through to the billing department, and the girl asked if it was concrete etc. from the meter to the house, which of course it is, and she went 'oooh, see that's your liability'. However, I then pointed out to her that were it the pipe that comes from the meter to the house which was leaking, then shutting off the internal tap, the meter would still move - it doesn't. She accepted that, and went on to say it must be internal to the house then...obviously. The standing water is rain water apparently, and not unusual, even in hot weather.
But not obviously. I've looked everywhere. I cannot for the life of me see any sign of a leak. No dampness anywhere. Overflow pipes are dry as a bone. The tank in the loft is working as it should i.e. filling up and stopping, not constantly filling tank. Nothing. We have Homecare which covers radiators and the whole central heating system, so I guess as a first point of call I could ask them to send an engineer out and check that side of the plumbing. Other then that, I'm at a bit of a loss as what to do, other then get an independent plumber out to check everything else over.
IF I get that done, and its established there is no leak, then what!? Much confusion.
Firstly, after removing the circular lid to the meter, I noticed it was flooded with water, about 3 inches above the surface of the meter face. I thought this was a bit unusual given we've had the hottest weather in the UK for the last four weeks plus.
Anyway, I observed the meter and noticed that whilst the numbers weren't increasing before my eyes, certainly the center black dial was rotating slowly and at least one other dial, the needle moved slowly. I thought this a bit odd as we were not using any water in the house.
I turned the supply to the meter itself off and observed the meter readings. The dials stopped moving. I left this for half an hour and returned, there was no change. I switched the supply to the meter on again and took a reading, the dials started to move again.
I then turned the supply to the house off and observed the reading. The dials again, stopped moving. I left it half an hour, no change. I turned the tap back on again and sure enough the dials began to spin, at a faster rate (not so much that the numerical digits were increasing before my eyes). I left it a further half an hour and returned to the meter. Still the dials were spinning, but at a much slower rate this time.
So it appears the dials are continuously spinning, and I guess day by day the numbers are also increasing. I looked at our last three bills which we get every 6 months. The last three bills, we were only using on average a volume of 30-40m3. The estimate at the time of last bill was 1830. Six months on from that bill and the reading on the meter is 2139. That's at least 300m3 increase in six months.
So it would appear, that I have a leak, somewhere. The trouble is, I have no idea where, and I don't know where to begin looking. We have noticed no dampness in either the floors, ceilings or walls and there are no leaking taps or toilets. Our upstairs toilet was broken for a few weeks, and was contantly trickling water into the pan. I fixed that. Surely that would not have consumed 300m3? The only oddity we did notice was a strange smell in our hallway around Christmas time, early 2010 occasionally, like a musty smell, which we put down to the rain, as it only seemed to occur when it rained.
My question, I guess, is two fold. Where and how do I start looking for a leak? And would water in the meter chamber, during our hot weather, be some sort of clue as to where the fault lies (with us, or Anglian Water)?
Thanks for your time and help. Much appreciated.
EDIT: I spoke to Anglian Water again today, and after my test results, they are confident its a leak that is our problem. They put me through to the billing department, and the girl asked if it was concrete etc. from the meter to the house, which of course it is, and she went 'oooh, see that's your liability'. However, I then pointed out to her that were it the pipe that comes from the meter to the house which was leaking, then shutting off the internal tap, the meter would still move - it doesn't. She accepted that, and went on to say it must be internal to the house then...obviously. The standing water is rain water apparently, and not unusual, even in hot weather.
But not obviously. I've looked everywhere. I cannot for the life of me see any sign of a leak. No dampness anywhere. Overflow pipes are dry as a bone. The tank in the loft is working as it should i.e. filling up and stopping, not constantly filling tank. Nothing. We have Homecare which covers radiators and the whole central heating system, so I guess as a first point of call I could ask them to send an engineer out and check that side of the plumbing. Other then that, I'm at a bit of a loss as what to do, other then get an independent plumber out to check everything else over.
IF I get that done, and its established there is no leak, then what!? Much confusion.
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