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Investigating your water
usage
You can use your meter to
investigate possible reasons for higher water
consumption or to determine the amount of water
used by various appliances:
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Check for unexpected
overnight usage or leakage |
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Take a meter reading
before going to bed and then again first thin
in the morning before any water is used |
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Compare the two readings
- if they are different you should investigate
the possibility of a leak |
If a nightly meter reading
check indicates no leakage then you may have another
reason for high water consumption. These can include
watering your garden, using a power shower, having
dripping taps, having a swimming pool or pond,
or just having extra people in your home.
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How
to carry out a leakage check if you have a water
meter
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Shut off all taps and
the rising main (using the internal stopcock
- usually located under the kitchen sink,
or in the downstairs toilet/bathroom).
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Check that the cold
water cistern is not filling. |
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Compare the two readings
- if they are different you should investigate
the possibility of a leak |
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Once everything is shut
off and you are satisfied that there is no
water being used, go outside to the meter,
lift the lid (boxes with plastic lids will
require a strong screwdriver to force the
two plastic plugs from their locations) and
check to see if the meter dials are still
turning. If the red figures move, it indicates
a supply pipe leak. Wait at least 5 minutes
to ensure that very small leaks can be identified.
If any part of the meter is moving this could
indicate a leak. |
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If you are unable to
turn off the internal stopcock, then turn
off all water appliances and take a reading.
After an hour take another meter reading.
Make sure no water is going into cisterns
or storage tanks between the readings. |
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If the dials are turning
or the second reading is higher than the first,
there is probably a leak between the meter
and the internal stopcock. |
Before contacting Three Valleys
Water please ensure that your internal stopcock
is working and accessible. This will be used if
our technician visits to carry out a leakage check.
If the internal stopcock does not work, you will
need to contact your plumber to repair it before
we arrange a visit to your property. If you do
not have a plumber, click
here to find out about recommended plumbers.
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| If you think there
is a leak on the pipes supplying your property,
contact our free-phone Leakspotters hotline on 0800
376 5325. |
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| How
to locate your meter
Internally fitted meters -
are usually located on the cold water supply pipe
close to where it enters the property, for example
under the sink or near to the stopcock
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| Externally fitted
meters - can be found in a meter chamber at the
property boundary in the footpath or in your garden.
The meter is connected to the supply pipe at the
bottom of the chamber. You need to lift the small
metal cover of the meter chamber and remove the
polystyrene cover to the meter face, which is covered
by a plastic lid. |
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| Please note that
water in the meter chamber does not necessarily
mean that there is a leak as rainwater or water
from the soil can also enter the chamber.
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| Click
here to find out how to read your meter
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