How to carry out a leak test

Leaks can waste a lot of water if they’re not fixed quickly. If you think you’ve got a leak and have a water meter, try the following leak test tips:

Open the meter chamber and remove the polystyrene on top of the meter plus any collected surface water (a sponge usually does the trick).

To ensure you’re looking at the correct water meter, turn off the external stop tap and turn on a tap inside your property. If no water comes out, it’s your meter.

Turn the water back on at the meter and make a note of the meter reading.

Don’t use any water for the next 30 minutes to one hour and then take a reading, if the reading’s changed, water’s escaping from somewhere.

To find out where, and without using any water, turn the water off at your internal stop tap. Wait 30 minutes to one hour and take another meter reading. If there’s a change in the reading, water’s escaping externally. If there’s no change, it’s escaping internally.

If there’s no change to the water meter readings throughout this whole test then no water is escaping and there is no leak, you’re probably just using more water.

If you’re unsure whether you can apply for a leakage allowance, call our friendly customer service team on 0330 6600 137 or use our contact form.