FROM a sudden burst or a gradual trickle, water leaks can wreak havoc in your home – and on your finances.
Water damage from within your property, such as a leaking pipe, toilet, washing machine or tap, is categorised as an ‘escape of water.’
You could fork out up to thousands of pounds to repair big water leaks
They are one of the most common types of claim, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Figures from insurance firm, Policy Expert, show that while the average cost in damage was £454, including any redecorating or building work that was needed.
But in some cases, homeowners were forced to splash out more than £1,000 to repair the damage.
Insurers warn that it is often the smallest, hidden leaks which ultimately cause the most damage, and these can often go undetected.
Equally, frozen and burst pipes can cause significant disruption and serious damage to properties, even if only a minor rupture.
Figures from the ABI show the average cost of weather-related home insurance claims for burst pipes stands at a huge £9,300.
Home and contents insurance usually protects you against paying for damage caused, but if you don’t have it, you could end up paying thousands of pounds out of your own pocket.
We asked property Thomas Goodman from trades matching site, Myjobquote, to set out the tell-tale signs of a hidden water leak.
The property and construction expert told HOAR: “There are a host of things to look out for.
“Spotting the warning signs early is essential, to avoid a costly bill further down the line.”
Here are the six red flags to spot.
Drop in water pressure
Thomas recommends keeping a close eye on the water coming out of your taps and shower.
If not a lot comes out, it could be bad news.
“If it is more of a trickle than usual, you could have a leak,” he said.
“A drop in water pressure is one of the most obvious signs there’s a problem.”
Damp patches on your ceiling
As pipes are hidden between the floors, be on the lookout for signs of damp.
“Check for yellow or brown colouring or damp patches on your ceiling,” said Thomas.
“And if your floor coverings are wet, mouldy or lifting up, this should also set the alarm bells ringing.”
Hearing dripping noises
According to the property whizz, you can sometimes hear larger leaks.
“Listen out for dripping sounds,” he said. “This could mean you’ve got a leak.”
Rust around your radiators
Spotting a rusty mark at the bottom of radiators is another red flag.
Thomas said: “The same applies if you see rusty marks around appliances or showerheads.”
Wet ground in the garden
You might not use your outside space much in the winter, but it’s worth giving your garden the once-over during the colder months.
“Wet or soggy ground could be a sign of an external leak from your mains supply,” warned Thomas.
Water meter showing unusual usage
If your home has a water meter, be sure to monitor that device.
Thomas said: “If it’s registering higher-than-normal usage, this is another tell-tale sign of a leak.”
What action should I take?
If you have a leak, you need to act quickly to fix the issue before it escalates.
You should turn off the stopcock, call in a plumber to help, and also tell your insurer what has happened.
“Time is of the essence,” said Thomas. “This is especially the case if you are on a water meter, or if there’s a burst pipe.”
According to Thomas, you can expect to pay around £70 for an emergency plumber call-out.
“But this doesn’t include the time or materials needed to fix the leak,” he warned.
“Depending on the size and difficulty of the problem you could pay anywhere between £60 and £400 on top of the call-out fee, and in some cases, even more.”
How can I avoid a water leak?
As emergency repairs are costly, Thomas recommends carrying out seasonal checks around your home.
“Having an annual boiler service will keep your system in good working order, and help identify any drops in pressure caused by leaks.
“A heating engineer can also check you water pressure isn’t too high, as this will put additional strain on pipes.”
Always use a Gas Safe Register engineer.
“Visually inspect your home’s heating and water system every few months so leaks are found early,” added Thomas.
“This includes weak points, such as exposed pipework, taps, radiator valves, shower-heads, and your toilet cistern.”
It’s wise to insulate exposed pipework.
You can do this with lagging from a DIY store.
It’s also important to have good ventilation around your home.
“This will stop condensation, which can be damaging to pipes,” said Thomas.
“Make sure you know where you stop-tap is, and be sure that shut-off valves are installed under your sink.
“This will enable you to turn your supply off quickly if you need to, to fix a leak and avoid water damage.”
Thomas also suggests getting your pipes checked.
“Older water pipes tend to be narrower, and may not be adequate for feeding multiple appliances, such as showers and washing machines,” he said.
“This makes them more prone to leaks. A plumber or engineer can check your pipes are in good condition, and wide enough to cope with the demands of your home.”
Pipe blockages can also lead to water forcing its way out through a weak point, such as a joint.
Thomas added: “Households in hard water areas may benefit from a water softener to prevent limescale blockages.”
How can I protect my home from the impact of water damage?
When it comes to escape of water, prevention is always better than cure.
In cold weather, you should leave the heating on at 15 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing and frost damage to the home.
Also lift the loft hatch to help circulate the warm air.
Keep the number of a reputable plumber to hand, along with details for your insurer.
There are now a host of gadgets and alarms available which can help to notify households of a water leak the moment it starts, helping to reduce the overall cost of damage.
LeakBot, for example, will monitor for pipe leaks. If any are detected, an alert is sent to the homeowner’s smartphone.
Take steps to keep water bills down
Households are set to see a large jump in their annual water bills from April, when costs get hiked up to an average of £448.
As households continue to battle with the cost-of-living crisis, we are all looking for ways to keep a lid on our outgoings.
Methven recently launched a water savings calculator giving households an energy and cost saving based on personal usage.
There are lots of simple ways to save on your water bills, including taking shorter showers, not leaving the tap on when you brush your teeth, and only using dishwashers and washing machines when full.
