Can you hear a drip in your house but not sure where it is coming from? Or have you received a bill that shows high consumption, but you haven’t been using any more than usual?

It could be that you have a leak.

This can be a nightmare for any homeowner. We’re here to help you work out what to do if you think you have a leak in your home and take you through the steps you should carry out to get this resolved.

Common signs of a leak in your homeSome of the most common signs of a leak include:

• Water where there usually isn’t any
• Reduced water pressure
• Noisy pipework
• Damp patches in or outside your home
• Lush vegetation
• Leaky loos
• Leaking overflow (when the cistern fills up to a level more than it should causing excess water to flow out of the overflow pipe)

What is a leaky loo?A leaky loo, or a leaking toilet, are silent leaks that tend to go unnoticed. A single leaky loo can waste up to 400 litres of water a day – the equivalent of five full bathtubs.

You can test if you have a leaking toilet by doing the following:

• Leave the toilet unused for 30 minutes
• Dry the back of the toilet pan and apply a piece of toilet paper or leaky loo strip (available for free here) to the back of the pan
• Come back after three to four hours and see if the paper or strip is wet. If it is, then you have a leaky loo.

What is a leaking overflow?A leaking overflow can often be attributed to a problem with a float valve. These are found in toilet cisterns, cold water tanks, and central heating feed and expansion tanks.

The float valve is usually a plastic ball at the end of a metal arm in the tank that's usually found in the loft. It controls the water level of the tank and will cause your overflow pipe to leak if it's faulty.

The most common problems include a leak in the float, which means it needs replacing, or a fault with its washers, which will need refitting.

How to test for a leakMetered customer
If you are a metered customer, follow these steps:

1. Turn off all your appliances that use water and make sure no water is being used in your home
2. Locate your water meter. If it is safe to do so, open the cover and take out the polystyrene plug if there is one
3. Take a meter reading making note of all the numbers in both black and red
4. Come back in 30 minutes and check again

If both readings are the same, there is no leak.

If the second reading is higher than your first, you may have a leak.

To narrow down whether the source of the leak is inside or outside your home:

1. Turn off your water supply at the internal stop tap. This can often be found under your kitchen sink, in your garage or in your downstairs toilet or bathroom.
2. Check that no water is coming out of the kitchen cold water tap when it is turned on.
3. Take a meter reading and make a note of the black and red numbers
4. Come back after 30 minutes and read your meter again

If after 30 minutes your meter reading is higher, this could mean there is a problem between your meter and the internal stop tap.

If there is no difference, the leak is most likely coming from inside your home.

Unmetered customer
If you are unmetered, and you think you have a leak, here’s how you can check:

1. Turn off the water supply at your internal stop tap
2. Check that no water is coming out of the kitchen cold water tap when it is turned on
3. If there are no visible signs but you can hear a hissing or a knocking in your pipework, this could indicate a leak

How to fix a leak inside your homeLeaks left unattended can cause damage to your home and if you have a meter, can increase how much you pay.

If you have a leak in your home, turn off your stop tap to drain the system quickly.

If you think you have a burst pipe, turn off your boiler as well and use towels to soak up or block off any escaping water.

If the leak or bust pipe is close to any electrical fittings, switch them off at the mains.

After you have done this, we recommend you get in touch with an approved plumber through WaterSafe.

WaterSafe has a free online directory and is the national accreditation body for competent and qualified plumbers in England. 

Pipe responsibilityWhilst we are responsible for the water main and pipes in the street and the communication pipes leading up to the boundary of your property, your supply pipe that connects to your home and the pipes within it is the responsibility of the property owner.

We can support you in resolving leaks on your premises and advise when you may need to involve your insurance provider.

Please get in touch as soon as you are aware of a leak on your property. We'll visit your property, identify if there's a leak and help advise you on how best to proceed.

If you have a leak on your property, you should get it fixed within 30 days.

For more information on household leaks, take a look at our frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Leaks FAQs

Find out more about how to resolve a leak in and outside your home.