Signs of a Hidden Water Leak
How to tell if water is leaking under your slab, in a wall or in the yard, and how to check with your meter.
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Common signs
A higher water bill without explanation, the sound of running water when nothing is on, damp patches or bubbling paint, warm spots on tiled floors, a musty smell, cracks in tiles and a patch of lawn that stays green and wet.
The meter test
Turn off all taps and water-using appliances, note the meter reading, wait an hour without using water and read it again. If the numbers have moved, there is a leak.
Narrowing it down
Turning off the isolation valve to the hot water unit and repeating the test helps show whether the leak is on the hot or cold side. Toilets can leak silently into the pan; a few drops of food colouring in the cistern will show it.
Getting it found
Professional leak detection uses pressure testing, thermal imaging and acoustic listening to pinpoint the leak, so only a small area needs opening. Acting early limits damage and cost. If you find a leak, turn off the water at the stopcock if it is serious, and call a plumber to locate it.
Hampton Park soil and pipes
Hampton Park sits on heavy grey clay over sandier ground towards Lyndhurst, and that clay swells in a wet winter and shrinks and cracks in a dry summer. The older homes west of Hallam Road were mostly connected with earthenware sewer pipe in short lengths, and every joint is a place for roots to get in once the ground moves. Galvanised steel water pipe from the same era rusts from the inside, narrowing the bore and eventually leaking. On the newer estates, PVC drains are tougher, but trenches that were not compacted properly can settle and leave dips that hold grease and paper. We use a drain camera and pressure testing to see what is actually happening rather than guessing.
Related services
- Emergency plumbing
- Blocked drains
- Hot water repairs
- Gas fitting
- Hot water replacement
- Solar and heat pump
- Leaking taps
- Burst pipes
- Toilets
- Leak detection
- Sewer and relining
- Stormwater
- Gutters and roofing
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens and laundries
- Pressure and backflow
More guides
Questions on this topic
Can a leak under a slab cause damage?
Yes. It can affect floors, footings and the surrounding clay soil.
Will my water company help?
They may offer a leak allowance on your bill once the leak is repaired. Ask them.
Why Hampton Park homes choose us
We know the 3976 housing
Brick veneer from the 1980s and 1990s, older homes near the original centre and newer streets to the east: we work on all of them every week.
Straight answers
We tell you what is wrong, what it takes to fix and whether it can wait. No upselling.
Fixed price, agreed first
You see the price before work starts. Larger jobs get a free written quote.
Clean and careful
Boot covers, drop sheets and a tidy finish. We test the work with you before we leave.
Get a free quote
Tell us what is happening and a licensed Hampton Park plumber will call you back.
How quoting works
Ring 03 7075 3463 or send the form with a short note, and a photo if you have one. A licensed plumber calls you back, asks a few questions and books a time. On site they find the cause, talk you through your options and give you a fixed price. Nothing starts until you say yes, and larger jobs get a free written quote you can take away.
Need a plumber in Hampton Park?
Hampton Park, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst, Narre Warren South and nearby. No rates online: the plumber finds the fault, then gives you a fixed price.