Why your water bill is rising: Hidden water leaks 

Did you know hidden water leaks could be silently costing you hundreds of pounds each year? There are several reasons your water bill may be rising, no matter which reason it is its never a good sign. It’s bad for your wallet, the environment and potentially your property if the cause is a hidden water leak. In simple terms, your water bill rising means that you are using more water than you previously have. 

In this blog we will be going through the different reasons your water bill is rising, with a focus on the possibility of it being due to a hidden water leak. We will answer questions related to hidden water leaks such as:

• What is a water leak?
• What is the cause of a hidden water leak?
• What are the signs of a water leak?
• How do I deal with a leaking pipe?

By the end of this blog, you will be able to determine if it is in fact a leaking pipe that is causing your monthly water bill to skyrocket and what steps you should take to solve the problem. You will be able to save yourself money, conserve water and prevent expensive secondary damage occurring in the future.

Common reasons for a rising water bill

Increased water usage

When you break it down, there are two reasons as to why your water bill is rising. The first reason is increased water usage. Over the course of the month, you are using more water. There are a few factors that could be contributing to this increase in usage.

• Taking longer showers.
• More people may be in the property adding to the water usage.
• Running taps for longer.
• Cold weather may mean it takes longer for water to heat up, so you must run it longer.
• Dripping taps or toilets can add to water for the month.

Undiscovered water leak

The other reason is that you have a hidden leak somewhere in your property. That leak may be small but over time each drop of water adds up. According to a 2023 report by Affinity Water, 68% of UK households have experienced a water leak, collectively costing around £697 million each year in wasted water bills.

If this wasn’t bad enough, water leaks can get worse over time if left untreated. It is important to stress that dealing with a hidden water leak sooner rather than later is the best course of action. Hiring a leak detection specialist quickly can help to:

• Save you money on repairs
• Prevent water damage
• Prevent secondary damage
• Reduce the risk of mould growth
• Reduce the risk of health issues caused by excessive moisture or mould

3 Signs you might have a water leak

Alongside rising water bills, there are other signs that you may have a leak in your property. These signs are easy to identify once you know what they are, and you can quickly determine if you have a leak should you experience many of the signs at once.

• Rising water bills: The constant escape of water mean that you will be using more water during the month. Just because it isn’t coming out of your tap or shower doesn’t mean your water meter won’t be measuring it. That small drip every few seconds will add up to a significant amount of money after 30 days. If your leaking pipes drips water once every 5 seconds, it adds up to over 130 litres of water a month!
• Patches of damp: This is one of the more obvious indications you may have a hidden (or not so hidden) leak. The damp patches can start off small and you may not even notice it immediately. But, over time the patch will grow and grow and will soon become a constant warning sign.
• Low water pressure: Another sign to keep an eye out for is a sudden fall in your water pressure. Taps suddenly and showers suddenly becoming very weak is an indication that you have a leak somewhere in your system. A leak in your plumbing system will cause the volume of water to reduce. It is this reduction in volume that limits the available flow of water to your taps and showers.

If you notice one or more of these signs, the best course of action is to hire a professional.

The cost of ignoring hidden water leaks

Water damage

Undetected water leaks will cause water damage to your property, the severity depends on the location and the size of the leak. But it is inevitable that over time the water leak will result in water damage. Water damage can be expensive and complicated to deal with. Without the help of a professional service provider, attempts to fix it alone can often cause more harm than good.

Mould growth

Due to the excess moisture produced by a water leak, the perfect conditions for mould growth are created. Mould requires three things to grow:

• Moisture: The hidden leak, if left untreated, provides a constant supply of water and will maintain the damp conditions needed for mould growth.
• Organic material: Mould feeds on organic materials such as wood, paper, drywall, carpets, or even dust. In many instances the plumbing in your property is in a wall or ceiling and when the leak occurs it is the perfect place to saturate organic material.
• Suitable temperatures: The final condition required for mould growth is suitable a suitable temperature. Most mould species grow best in temperatures between 20°C and 30°C.

It must be stressed that the initial water leak is not the where the danger starts and ends. The secondary damage that occurs because of the leak must also be considered. Mould is regarded as a category one health risk. Exposure can lead to respiratory issues, allergic reactions, or infections, especially in vulnerable individuals like children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.

The financial as well as health costs of not dealing with a hidden water leak far out way the costs of dealing with it quickly. Over the long-term, the secondary damage that occurs because of the leak will require far more time, effort and money to treat. They also carry the risk of respiratory and health effects, but all of this can be easily avoided by quickly and correctly dealing with a suspected leak.

How to detect hidden water leaks

If you suspect you have an undetected water leak in your property it is best to seek the help of a professional leak detection service provider. To accurately locate a hidden water leak, specialist technology is required. Without hiring an expert, you will not have access to this equipment, or the skills needed to operate it. Here are some of the tools used by leak detection technicians during a service:

• Moisture meter: A moisture meter is often used during a leak detection service as well as damp surveys. It is a great piece of equipment that measures the moisture content of a surface. In most cases, if they are measuring high levels of moisture the leak is close by.
• Thermal imaging cameras: Although thermal imaging cameras cannot detect a leak themselves, they allow for a technique called moisture mapping. They are designed to visual indicate changes in temperatures. When a leak occurs, the escape of water will be a different temperature to the rest of the surface. The image on the camera will be able to accurately locate the leak by visually showing the temperature changes on a surface.
• Acoustic leak detectors: his complex piece of equipment uses sound waves to detect the faint sounds of the water escaping your pipes. It amplifies the sound, enabling a leak detection specialist to carefully pinpoint the precise location of the leak.

Conclusion

If you believe hidden leaks are affecting your property, it’s essential to act quickly. Trust a company that combines expertise with cutting-edge technology to ensure accurate detection and minimal disruption. Contact the Ideal Response team today for professional support and solutions tailored to your needs.