If every tap in your home is closed and no water-using appliance is running, but the water meter is still moving, it needs attention. In most cases it means water is still flowing somewhere in the system.
The leak may be very small and completely invisible. That is exactly why hidden leaks often go unnoticed for a long time.
How to check the water meter
First, close all the taps. Make sure the washing machine, dishwasher and other appliances are not drawing water.
Then watch the meter. If the reading still changes after a while, the water system needs further checking.
Before that, it is worth checking the toilet cistern. Sometimes a small amount of water runs from the cistern constantly, so quietly that people only notice the problem because the meter keeps turning.
Where water can be leaking
A leak does not always happen at a tap or a visible pipe. The damaged section may be inside a wall, under the floor or in another enclosed space.
The difficulty is that water travels inside the structure. A damp patch may appear on the wall not exactly where the pipe is damaged, but some distance away.
So searching for the problem only by the damp patch is not always right. In this situation, professional water leak detection helps locate the problem area far more precisely.
Signs to look out for
Besides the moving meter, a hidden leak may come with other signs.
Damp appears on the wall, paint bubbles, wallpaper peels or the floor covering changes shape. A musty or mouldy smell may also appear in the home.
Another sign is an unexpected rise in your water bill. If your habits have not changed but your water use has gone up noticeably, the system is worth checking.
Why you should not open a wall on a guess
When you see a damp patch, it may seem that the damaged pipe is right behind it. In reality the water may be coming from somewhere else.
If a wall or floor is opened without diagnostics, the problem may not be there at all. Then another area has to be opened, which increases both the amount of work and the cost of repairs afterwards.
That is why, with hidden damage, it makes more sense to identify the cause and likely location first.
Problems can appear in a newly renovated apartment too
New plumbing does not automatically mean there is no risk of leaks. A poorly made joint or a damaged pipe can reveal itself weeks or months after the renovation is finished.
If several plumbing points are causing problems at the same time, it may be necessary to assess the whole plumbing network to find out how well the system was installed.
When to act
If the taps are closed and the water meter still moves regularly, do not put it off. Even a small leak increases water loss every day and can slowly damage walls, floors or furniture.
First rule out the visible causes, then, if needed, have a professional leak detection done. The sooner the damaged section is found, the lower the chance of a large-scale repair. In Tbilisi or Batumi, contact Chalicha.
