How to check your home for an internal plumbing issue

You can complete our suggested checks to determine if an internal plumbing issue or leak may explain a higher than normal water meter reading.

If you have mobility concerns we recommend that you ask a neighbour or family member to help you complete these checks.

Is there a constant sound of water running from any of your toilet cisterns?

Look for a stream of water running inside the toilet bowl – you can shine a torch to help you see this.
Alternatively, place a piece of toilet paper on the inside back of the toilet bowl and see if it absorbs water.

Can you hear the water storage tank refilling when water-consuming appliances are not in use? It may be easier to hear this at night.

Look for signs of water under the overflow pipes from the water storage tank – usually seen on the external wall on the side of your home.

Check all your household and external garden taps for drips.

A dripping tap can waste over 1,500 litres of water a year and can be repaired by simply replacing the washer.

Check water-consuming appliances, e.g. washing machine and dishwasher, for plumbing issues such as dripping joints.

Also, some water-consuming appliances such as fridges with ice-makers or water softeners can have external overflows which can result in a constant overflow to a waste pipe when there is a fault.

“Irish Water | Uisce Éireann.” Leak Detection. Web. 1 July 2015. <http://www.water.ie/help-centre/leak-detection/>.