How to do a leak test

How to check for a leak at home

Leaks can be hidden and hard to find. However, it could be as simple as a dripping tap or a leaking toilet that needs repairing. 

You’d be surprised at how much water can be lost from these.

Follow our steps to check for leaks

1. Check your taps and toilet for leaks

A leaky loo could be wasting 215 litres a day. Follow our steps to check for a leaking toilet. If it is, we’ll fix it for free. 

2. Do a leak test if you have a water meter

Part one of the leak test

1. Turn off all taps but leave the internal stop tap open. It's important that no water is used during the test.

2. Take a meter reading, making sure you read all the digits and dials. If you can’t find your meter, log in to your online account to find out where it's located.

3. Wait one to two hours before taking a second reading. You could take a reading before bedtime and the second reading the next morning.

4. Take the second reading. 

If the second reading is higher, and you haven't used any water, please continue with part two of the test. 

Part two of the leak test

1. This time, turn off all taps and the internal stop tap. The stop tap is usually found under the kitchen sink, bathroom or in a connecting garage. Make sure the water is off by turning the kitchen tap on until the water stops. If water continues, the internal stop tap may not be fully off, or it could be faulty and needs replacing. 

6. Take a meter reading, making sure you read all the digits and dials. 

7. Wait one to two hours before taking another reading. Again, a good time to do this is in the evening before going to bed.

8. Take a second reading before reopening the internal stop tap. 

Results 

If the meter reading is higher after part one of the test and not part two, it suggests the leak is on your private pipework.

A leak on private pipework is the homeowner's responsibility to fix. Check your home insurance, as it may cover leak repairs. If you're not covered, contact a WaterSafe approved plumber (opens new window) to repair it. If you fix a leak within 30 days, you may qualify for a leak allowance.  

If the meter reading is higher after both part one and part two of the test, send us a message on WhatsApp (opens new window) so we can find out if the leak is on our pipes, or on private pipes. 

If the leak is on our pipes, we will fix it.