Look for leaks
Inside
When looking for leaks inside your house, check any area in the house that use water—i.e. kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Also, inspect your washing machine and dishwasher connections for any leaks or damp patches on the wall.
Outside
When looking for leaks outside, check any hose connections and garden irrigation for leaks. Also take a close look at your hot water system and air-conditioning units for any dripping or surrounding damp areas. It pays to also have a look near the pool or keep an eye out for any patches of turf that are greener or softer than other parts.
Perform a test
You can save yourself the trouble of calling a plumber out, only to tell you that you’re leak-free, by performing your own leak detection test.
Step #1
Turn off all running water in your house.
Step #2
Go out to your water meter and see if the red and black numbers are moving on the dial.
Step #3
If there are no visible changes, leave the meter for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step #4
If the numbers changed at all during step #2 or #3 then there’s a good chance you have a leak and you should call your local plumber for further investigation.
Stop the leak instantly
If you can’t get a plumber to your home straight away and don’t want to continue wasting water in the meantime, you can switch off the water using the stop tap. This stop tap can be found inside the meter and will temporarily stop the flow of water to your home. However, this is not a long-term solution and a plumber should be arranged for repairs.
How to repair a leak
In many cases, it is against Queensland plumbing laws and regulations to fix your own plumbing issues. So if you’ve found a leak, we suggest contacting your local plumber for some help.
