Receiving a higher-than-expected water bill can come as a surprise.
If you're concerned that your billed water usage is not an accurate reflection of what your household has used, you may have a water leak in your home.
Conducting a leak detection test may determine if there is a leak in your home.
This article provides instruction on how to check for leaks within and around your home.
Toilets
Toilet cistern leaks are common and can go unnoticed. Fortunately, leaking toilets can be easily checked by following these steps:
- Add 15-20 drops of food colouring into the toilet cistern
- Don't flush - wait for approximately 30 minutes
- If food colour appears in the bowl, you have a leak
- Flush as soon as the test has been completed to clear the food colouring.
Tip: Don't have any food colouring? Instead, place a dry sheet of toilet paper at the back of the toilet bowl, above the water line. It should stay dry unless there is water trickling down the back of the bowl, indicating a leaking toilet.
Pools
Pools use a lot off water, so even a small leak is worth paying attention to. A leaking pool can be checked by following these steps:
- Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on a step in your pool (so th water inside the bucket and pool are level).
- Mark the water level on the bucket and the pool
- Wait 24 hours without using the pool
- Come back and check the levels. If the pool water dropped more than the bucket water, you may have a leak. If the dropped the same amount, its just evaporation.
Tip: For a more accurate result, do this test with the pool pump turned off.
Garden
- Check your outdoor taps and fittings for drips. If they're leaking, give them a tighten or replace the fittings. Even a slow drip can waste thousands of litres over time.
- If you use an irrigation system, conduct a check of all caps and jets, checking they are turned on and there are no leaks in the system.
Tip: To save water (and money), invest in a trigger nozzle for your hose. They use less water and often do the same job.
Other
- Check your property for visible water leaks from taps and showers, ensuring they are all fully turned off
- Check your plumbed fridge is not leaking (if applicable)
- Check your hot water system is not leaking.
Tip: During renovations or property maintenance, make sure to replace taps, showers and toilets with water-efficient WELS rated items.