Leak Detection 101
In a typical house, leaky toilets and faucets can waste hundreds of litres of water each day, and that means higher water and sewer bills. To help you identify and repair leaks, Save Water Save Money offers the following advice:
- Make sure no water is running in the house and observe your water meter (If you see the meter’s dial or triangle moving, you may have a leak somewhere).
- Check toilets for silent leaks by using a LeakyLooTM. (Leaky toilets can usually be repaired inexpensively by replacing the flapper mechanism).
- Inspect the water level in the toilet tank. The correct water line is about a half-inch below the top of the overflow pipe. If it is higher, water is being wasted.
- Check taps and faucets in your bathroom, kitchen, and particularly any that are outside the house, as most people forget to check for leaks in the garden. (Worn washers are the biggest cause of leaks.)
- If you believe you have a so-called “phantom leak” such as those occurring in pipes behind walls, under floors or under foundations, we would recommend contacting a leak detection company.
- Always repair leaks promptly. If you can’t make the repairs yourself, call a Water Safe plumbing contractor.
Leak Facts
- A 3.2 mm hole in a metal pipe, at 40 psi (pounds per square inch), leaks 11365.2 litres of water every 24 hours.
- A leak the size of a pinhead can waste 1,636,593 litres a year, enough to fill 12,000 bathtubs to the overflow mark.
- A leaking toilet can use 409148 litres of water in 30 days.
- About 1 in every 300 homes has a leak.
- A dripping faucet/hose can lose up to 9820 litres a year.
- If you have an outdoor pool, a pool cover can prevent about 4,546 litre of water per month from evaporating.
- One trip through a motorised car wash uses 682 litres of water.
(all figures are approximate)