Drip, Drip, Disaster: How to Spot and Stop Water Leaks Fast

Join the Bunch community

Sign up to our newsletter to receive email updates on all the latest news, industry insights and top tips from us at The Bunch.

Signup to our newsletter

Written by

Share this article

How to deal with leaks

Got a noticeable water leak in your property and you don’t know what to do? Don’t worry! Here’s everything you need to know to ensure you can prevent damage from a leak in your home. 

If you find a water leak the first thing you need to do is:

  • If you are a renter you need to contact your landlord or letting agent immediately! This makes them aware of the issue and so they can provide a solution and fix your leak.
  • If you are a homeowner and you discover a leak, you will need to contact a plumber immediately, as you are liable for paying the costs to repair. 

Unsure if you have a leak?

Sometimes you can’t always tell if you have a leak. There are 3 indications that suggest you have a water leak. 

  1. You receive an abnormally high water bill. This could indicate that more water is being used because of a leak. 
  2. You receive large water meter readings. You notice that the readings on your water meter are significantly higher than previous readings, and your water consumption patterns have not changed. To find out more on your water meters read this.
  3. You receive notice from your water supplier who has identified a leak that may be affecting your property. 

If you think you have a leak but can’t find one, there are two tests you can carry out to check.

Test 1:

thStep 1: Ensure all the taps are turned off and that the washing machine and dishwasher are not running.

Step 2: Go to your meter, take a picture of the meter to record the current reading.

Step 3: Check if the little dial is moving. If the dial is moving, there is a leak in your property. 

Test 2: The Stopcock test

Step 1: Find your stopcock and turn it off. This is the master tap that is often found under the sink and turns off all the water from the property. If you are unsure where this is, ask your landlord or letting agent. To turn it off, you usually need to turn it clockwise. 

Step 2: You can check your stopcock is off by turning on the kitchen sink cold tap.

Step 3: This may take a few seconds, but no water should come out after the stopcock is closed. 

Step 4: Go to your water meter, and check if the dial is moving. 

Step 5: If the dial is moving and no water is coming out of your tap, there is a leak between the meter and the stopcock. If the dial isn’t moving, there is a leak after the stopcock (for example, a leak inside the house).

Step 6: Turn the kitchen tap off and open the stopcock. 

My water has stopped – what do I do?

If your taps have run dry and you’ve got no water supply, don’t panic. Usually there is a simple explanation as to why this has happened, but the most important thing you need to do is contact your water supplier immediately to make them aware of the problem. By contacting them, they can also make you aware of any water works happening in your area that may have caused your water supply to stop. If you are unsure of who your water supplier is, enter your postcode here.

My water is discoloured – what shall I do?

If your water supply has started looking discoloured, most often, your water is not harmful. However, it is still recommended to not drink or use the water until the problem has been investigated. Water discolouration is likely caused by something that has entered the water supply. When you first notice water coming through the tap is not its usual colour, you should run the cold water tap in your kitchen (often the master tap) for a few minutes to flush out anything that may be causing the discolouration. 

If, after a few minutes of running the tap, the water continues to be discoloured, you will need to contact your landlord or letting agent if you are a renter, or if you are a homeowner you will need to contact a plumber to investigate the issue, as it may be due to a problem with the property’s plumbing system. From this, you will be advised on how to proceed to resolve the issue.

Wastewater problems and how to save water

While using more water than necessary not only costs you more but also contributes to the environment. This means being mindful of the amount of water you use is beneficial to both your bills and the environment. 

If you notice your water consumption is significantly high and it is not caused by a leak, or you want to save on your water bill and help the environment, read our blog for some quick tips and tricks on how you can splash less and save more water in our blog

If you would like to understand more on how your water usage affects the environment, read this