Leak Detection FAQs

1. Soil, paving or concrete – one needs to ask if it is a level or gradient area.
   Should it be in a level area, under soil, grass there is a 95% chance that the leak is within a 2sq meter are, and therefore one can send a plumber as you do not need a leak detector.
2. Should there be water under paving or concrete and there is a gradient / slope one then needs to determine of the Leak Detector is necessary.  The reason is that water is a powerful source and will push out at the weakest area, which will be at the lowest point – the source of the water could be 5/10/15 meters away.

1. Are you aware if it is municipal water or waste?
   If you don’t know then check :
2. Is the water meter turning when no one is using water.
   Please ensure that there are no leaking taps, toilets and valves.  It they are leaking they will cause the water meter to turn, which will not give conclusive evidence if the meter is turning due to a leaking pipe, taps or toilets.

If the meter is turning – no leaking taps etc – then we know that the leak is on the water reticulation system.

And now you need the Leak Detector.

1. Free Standing Single Storey house
   Then more than likely it is a leaking pipe or geyser in the roof and we can send the plumber out
2. Freestanding Double Storey House with a concrete slab
   Then we need to determine if the water is dripping all the time or intermittently
   However it needs to be understood that it can be waste water that has been leaking for a very long time and the concrete slab has become saturated with water and therefore drip all the time
   Intermittent dripping: Then we know that it is usually waste water from the shower, batch, etc.  This can be double checked by not using the bathroom and a plumber can be send to check the problem out
   Dripping all the time: Then you need the Leak Detector
3. Unit in a Complex : If you are not on the top level then you will require access to the unit above you as it could be there responsibility to fix the leak.

It could be a blocked drain, storm water drain or coming from the next door neighbour.

1. Have you checked that you have leaking taps, toilets or valves?
2. Have you checked the Water Meter?  Is it turning and there is no visible leaks?  You need the Leak Detector.
3. If you have leaking taps, toilet or valves then you need a plumber to take care of this.

A leak does not need to be large to cause a High Water Bill.  A leaking toilet can register a liter of water per minute. 

1. Have you checked that you have leaking taps, toilets or valves?
2. Have you checked that the readings on the water meter are accurate and that the meter is not just turning due to a faulty water meter?
3. If you have leaking taps, toilet or valves then you need a plumber to take care of this.
4. If you have no leaks and the water meter is not faulty, then you need to get the leak detector out.

1. Have you checked that you have leaking taps, toilets or valves? If yes, then you need a plumber
2. Have you checked the Water Meter?  Is it turning and there is no visible leaks?  You need the Leak Detector.
3. If the meter is not turning, it does not mean that there is no leak in the water reticulation system, there could be a sweating leak – a pipe that seeps and this small leak will not register on the meter.  You need the Leak Detector.

1. Does each unit have an individual meter or stopcock? If yes
2. One needs to get the caretaker or someone in charge to switch the water off to all the units and then check if the water meter is turning.  It it is turning then we know the leak is on the communal pipe.  You need the Leak Detector.
3. If the meter is not turning, they need to open each unit’s stopcock or meter, one at a time and keep checking the meter until it starts turning.  This will indicate the Unit that has the leak.  The Leak Detector needs to be called to that unit.

Put a piece of tissue paper on the inside at the back of the toilet bowl.  If the tissue starts to get wet, we know that the toilet is in fact leaking.