Unexplained water usage overnight ...

[SandraKJ]

Hello Everyone. I'm back! It's been a year since my original post and I still haven't managed to resolve the mysterious water usage in my home. It's driving me nuts as I just can't figure out what's going on and Thames Water aren't interested. I've attached some screenshots from over the Christmas period. I was away from Christmas Eve until the afternoon of the 27th December so there should have been no water consumption at all from 5pm on 24/12/22 until 5pm on 27/12/22. You'll see that there is a tiny amount being recorded during the afternoon/evening and I accept that I may have a small leak somewhere BUT there is a consistently large amount being used every night from 1am - 8am when I wasn't at home. The profile leads me to think that there must be something on a timer somewhere as the amount of water being "used" increases over a few hours and then tails off but I don't have anything in my home that would account for this. I was wondering if it might be a legacy issue from when the builders replaced the old back-boiler with a new Worcester Bosch combi-boiler some 10+ years ago but surely that would have all been capped off / disabled at the time. Anyone got any ideas as currently I'm "consuming" more water overnight than I actually "use" during the day. I really don't want to have to get an engineer out to investigate and to have all my lovely oak flooring ripped up in the process. Thanks for reading ...

 

[Chuck]

Here's the original thread:

Mysterious Water Usage

Hello there. I'm hoping somebody can provide me with some guidance on an issue that's been ongoing now for over 2 years! Thames Water moved my home onto a smart meter and ever since then, the daily water usage is showing that water is being used every night between midnight and 7am. On...

www.plumbersforums.net

Most of the usual diagnostic questions were asked and answered a year ago so I doubt you'll get the matter fixed without someone doing an on-site investigation. There are leak-finding firms who specialise in locating hidden leaks.

"I really don't want to have to get an engineer out to investigate and to have all my lovely oak flooring ripped up in the process."

Ripping up expensive flooring wouldn't be the first move for someone who knows what they are doing. If it's proved that's where the leak is then it will probably be possible to isolate the existing service pipe and run a new one that uses another route. A flooring company may be able to work with the plumber so that if a section of the floor does have to be taken up it is done in a way that allows a subsequent 'invisible' repair.

 

[SandraKJ]

Here's the original thread:

Mysterious Water Usage

Hello there. I'm hoping somebody can provide me with some guidance on an issue that's been ongoing now for over 2 years! Thames Water moved my home onto a smart meter and ever since then, the daily water usage is showing that water is being used every night between midnight and 7am. On...

www.plumbersforums.net

Most of the usual diagnostic questions were asked and answered a year ago so I doubt you'll get the matter fixed without someone doing an on-site investigation. There are leak-finding firms who specialise in locating hidden leaks.

"I really don't want to have to get an engineer out to investigate and to have all my lovely oak flooring ripped up in the process."

Ripping up expensive flooring wouldn't be the first move for someone who knows what they are doing. If it's proved that's where the leak is then it will probably be possible to isolate the existing service pipe and run a new one that uses another route.

The thing is Chuck that it can't be a leak as the water that's being consumed is all overnight between 1am - 8am and follows a distinct pattern, rising from 1am and peaking at 4-5am and then dropping back to zero by 9am. The water usage during the day is totally as expected. Any idea of what kind of firm I should be looking for to do an on-site investigation?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Start turning your toilets off one by one until you see it stop etc

 

[Chuck]

The thing is Chuck that it can't be a leak as the water that's being consumed is all overnight between 1am - 8am and follows a distinct pattern, rising from 1am and peaking at 4am and then dropping back to zero by 8am.

It's not a constant leak such as would arise from a pin-hole but there are other types. Some types of cracks open and close depending on pressure and temperature. Large trees have roots that affect the ground in a manner that varies over the course of a day, etc.

There are lots of things one can do to track down this sort of problem but they aren't really DIY and they require kit that not many plumbers have on their van.

Any idea of what kind of firm I should be looking for to do an on-site investigation?

Google "Leak finding specialists London" and have a chat to them by phone first. Some of them may offer a domestic customer a fixed fee service on a no-find no-fee basis but times are tight and they have to make a living.

 

[SandraKJ]

Start turning your toilets off one by one until you see it stop etc

Thanks @ShaunCorbs ... I've had the toilet checked by a plumber recently when I had some new radiators installed and there was no leak - also bought the dye tablets that you put in your cistern to check for any leaks overnight but there was nothing. I remain convinced that it's not a leak as I was away for 3 days with zero water usage being recorded at all during the day - just the same scenario that I've now had for 3 years where water is being "consumed between midnight and 8am. I'm baffled. Thanks for your advice as I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere.

 

[SandraKJ]

It's not a constant leak such as would arise from a pin-hole but there are other types. Some types of cracks open and close depending on pressure and temperature. Large trees have roots that affect the ground in a manner that varies over the course of a day, etc.

There are lots of things one can do to track down this sort of problem but they aren't really DIY and they require kit that not many plumbers have on their van.


Google "Leak finding specialists London" and have a chat to them by phone first. Some of them may offer a domestic customer a fixed fee service on a no-find no-fee basis but times are tight and they have to make a living.

Thanks for the great advice @Chuck - I'll contact a few companies and will keep you posted. Appreciate your help.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Thanks @ShaunCorbs ... I've had the toilet checked by a plumber recently when I had some new radiators installed and there was no leak - also bought the dye tablets that you put in your cistern to check for any leaks overnight but there was nothing. I remain convinced that it's not a leak as I was away for 3 days with zero water usage being recorded at all during the day - just the same scenario that I've now had for 3 years where water is being "consumed between midnight and 8am. I'm baffled. Thanks for your advice as I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere.

Have you tried turning your internal stop tap off ?

 

[SandraKJ]

Have you tried turning your internal stop tap off ?

Yes, I have @ShaunCorbs and it continues to record the same water usage every night. :-(

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yes, I have @ShaunCorbs and it continues to record the same water usage every night. :-(

So it’s not internal so either leak externally or someone else it tapped into your supply

Leak seaker required

Might be worth contacting someone like This