Step 3 - Check for leaks

Dripping taps can keep you awake at night and cost you money. A slowly dripping cold water tap loses about 5,000 litres of water over a three month period and adds unnecessary cost to your account.

As water meters can display usage to as little as a tenth of a litre (100 ml) you can monitor your water meter to detect leaks around your home.

To check for leaks, make sure that there is no water being used within the house or in the garden. This means not flushing the toilets, operating taps, appliances or automatic watering systems.

Watch the water meter measurement numbers (see pictures) over a thirty minute period and note whether the right hand side dials or "clockfaces" are moving.

If the dials have changed position, this indicates that there may be a leak in your household system.

To determine the extent of any leak read your water meter then, making sure not to use any water in the house or garden, wait for thirty minutes and take another meter reading.

Click here for more information about detecting leaks

If you suspect you have a leak, you should seek expert advice and consult a licensed plumber. If you would like assistance in locating a plumber, please call our Plumbing Referral Service on 132 762.

If there is no leak indicated, proceed to the next step.