The noise of leaking pipes and taps is indeed irritating after a while. But the real nuisance with problems as such is the sudden increase in water consumption. In other words, a high water bill.
It is not that surprising for plumbers, however. Tap and pipe leaks typically account for 1/7th of your water consumption.
That said, we will share in this article some typical water leaks to watch for and how much it cost you.
What Is Your Average Water Bill?
How much of an impact an undetected leak will have on your water bill will, of course, depend on the amount of water being wasted compared to your normal usage.
Per ACT, water rates more than double when average daily consumption is above the ACT household average of 0.548 per kL. That means that if your water consumption usually sits on the household average, then any experiences with the types of water leaks below will require you to spend double your current water rates- an unnecessary financial cost you want to avoid.
Showerhead
A leaking shower head will consume a lot if not repaired immediately. On average, ten drops per minute adds up to 7.6 litres a day. And that is a lot!
It can add up to a lot of lost water during the year, and the cost will only get worse depending on the severity of the leak.
Toilets
Leaks in the toilet consume more than what you might realise. It consumes around 190 litres a day, 25x more than what showerhead leaks consume.
Tap
There is no hard and fast formula for how much water you lose from a leaky tap, as it depends on the size and the rate at which the drip is falling. Say, if your tap drips once every second and is left unattended for a year, then the water consumed will be around 9,465 litres every year. Mind you, this is for just one tap; if you have multiple taps that are dripping, that can quickly add up to a more expensive water bill.
Relief Valve
Sometimes, a relief valve may start to drip excessively, especially if it has not been used for a while. The dripping can be very constant, and like taps, the amount of water leaked will depend on the consistency of the drip.
How Do You Know If You Have a Leak?
To detect the source of leaks, you can turn off all taps and water using appliances and using your water metre (usually located at the front of a home), write down the black and red numbers on the dial. After waiting for five minutes, check to see if the numbers change on the water metre.
If they do, then you know you have a water leak (or leaks). The next step is to identify the source of the leaks. A good plumber like Level Plumbing Canberra will know how to identify the source of the leaks.
Keep in mind that not every plumber has the tools and expertise to detect leaking pipes, either hidden underground or inside walls. So, it is best to check with the plumbing company first.
What’s Next?
Some leaks are difficult to detect, particularly if it is through manual inspection. This is why it is highly recommended to hire a licensed and experienced plumber rather than check the issue yourself.
If you have detected water leaks in your home or have recently received an unusually high water bill, then contact Level Plumbing Canberra today at (02) 6188 6088 and book an appointment.
