How to diagnose and fix a leak in your water main
Water is precious. One moment you can be in drought conditions, and next you have an abundance of water. We should still hold water sacred as there is a lot of energy expended to give you potable water.
How to find your water meter
Your water meter is usually found in a box on your boundary, somewhere to the left side or right side. This is not a hard and fast rule, as Auckland seemed to have gone through a period of exceedingly random water meter placement. The lid is usually black or blue, sometimes they are housed in a cast iron box, or even a wooden box with a metal lid.
They can often get partially buried, so have a thorough look around your boundary, either on your property or just outside.
If you live down a long driveway or similar, your meter is still usually found on, or next to the road, on the boundary of your or a shared driveway.
Water meter (toby) box
Can you eliminate other possible causes of excess usage?
Do you have dripping taps, inside or outside? Is your toilet constantly filling or leaking through into the pan? Is your hot water system venting water from the control valves? Can you hear a hissing sound, or the sounds of running water when you have no taps on in the house? Do you have an in house supply pipe leak?
Usually water is fed to your house from under the floor or from the ceiling, if there is a leak it may be easy to find when you know where to look.
How long should your water main last?
Depending on materials your water main should last a minimum 20 years, but usually over 50 years.
Galvanised steel has the least longevity, lasting on average 20 to 50 years, Copper and brass are 50 years plus.
Older plastic pipe systems should last 50 years, but the situation where they are laid (on bare or sharp rock for example) can reduce their lifespan markedly
New HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe is touted to last 50 plus years.
Signs you have a water main leak
Higher than average water bill
This may not mean you have a leak. It could mean a few things. Did you just fill a pool? Is this a ‘catch-up’ bill, ie your meter hasn’t been read for some time and finally you have an actual reading. Have you had house guests, or spent more time than usual at home? Have you watered the garden a lot? Was your meter read correctly? Are the numbers on your meter close to the actual reading?
You can hear the water meter spinning
The water meter spinning is more of a spinning sound and a tick as the rollers move from number to number. Some older meters can be reasonably loud, and you can hear them when you are close.
You have a boggy patch in the garden
An isolated boggy patch when the rest of your garden is dry can be indicative of a water main, or a sewer/stormwater pipe leak. If this boggy patch is in concert with a constantly spinning water meter, then you have a leak in your pipe.
If there is no spinning meter, it could mean the leak is before the meter, or the other 2 options.
You have a constant wet patch on the tarmac
Same as per the boggy patch in the garden, it can be an issue with the supply, meter, or sewer/stormwater outlets
Remuera water main leak
Your meter box is full of water
This depends where you are compared to ground water level, however a meter box full of water can mean a leak on your side or the council side of the meter.
Who is liable for leak repair?
As you can see with the ‘red line of responsibility’, you are liable after this point, the council is liable before.
Meter line of responsibility
How much water is each number worth?
You are charged per kilolitre, or per 1000 litres, but the smaller numbers, which are the last few red numbers, will be the key to tell you if you have a leak.
Water meter
How to tell if you have a leak.
Leaks can be slow, leaks can be fast.
Fast leaks are obvious as the meter is spinning around, but the slow leaks are harder to see, and find.
The best way to tell if you have a slow leak
Ensure everything is off inside the house
Find your water meter box, and take a picture of the numbers.
Make sure you don’t use any water fixture inside the house or outside the house
After one hour, take another picture.
Compare the readings to see if any water has passed through the meter.
You have a leak on the council side of the meter.
Call the council to get one of their technicians to fix your issue.
You have a leak on your side of the meter, what now?
The best option is to call a plumber, contact us here to organise a visit.
Once a plumber is on site, they will be able to discern where the likely leak is and the next best plan of action.
All of our plumbers carry basic acoustic detection equipment, and we can easily find large underground leaks.
For smaller leaks acoustic detection equipment sometimes cannot help, as there is not enough noise to find.
In this case you have to dig exploratory holes to find the issue.
How much does it cost to fix a watermain?
The price can run from $120.00 upwards, depending on how long it takes to find the leak, how much pipe you have to replace and whether other specialist equipment is needed.
Extra trades that may be required
Concrete cutters
Leak detectors
Directional drillers.
It may be the most pragmatic solution to replace the entire water main instead of cutting up concrete, trying to find the leak and all other associated costs of repairing a cut driveway etc.
We can discuss this onsite with you, for the quickest and most cost effective solution.
Getting a refund for excess water usage
If you have had your water main issue fixed within three months of your water provider alerting you to a higher than average reading, you should be able to get a refund of the excess water usage. You will have to provide a plumbing bill to the council to action this.
If you have another leak within 3 years, you can get a partial refund, for wastewater charges only.
Click here to apply for your leak allowance
If you have a water main or house leak don't hesitate to contact us here or call on 0273486417 for fast, friendly and efficient service.