A Steadily Climbing Bill and a Burst Under the Courtyard in Hillcrest Heights
Not every leak announces itself with a dramatic spike. Theodore's account had been climbing steadily, month on month, and he had already worked out for himself what was probably behind it. His message:
"Water account has been rising steadily. We suspect an underground leak."
A meter running with no taps open means one thing: water is escaping somewhere you cannot see it.
What I found
The visual inspection confirmed no leaks on any visible water feature, and the meter recording flow with nothing running. Using a pressure test and trace gas, I traced the leak to the cold water line feeding the property, a 22mm copper or polycop line running underground. The burst was in the back courtyard, right where the main feed enters the building to balance pressure to the hot water cylinder and feed cold water to the rest of the house.
That location matters: it is a spot no homeowner would ever think to look, and nothing on the surface gave it away.
Underground leak
Why it matters
A steadily rising bill is easy to dismiss for a month or two, which is exactly what makes this kind of leak expensive. The longer it runs, the more it costs, and all of it at the top tariff step. Theodore's report pinpointed the burst so the repair could be targeted rather than exploratory.
If your bill is climbing and you cannot see why
A slow, steady rise with no visible cause is worth investigating before it becomes a very large number. Fill in our online form with your address and what your bill has been doing, and we will take it from there.
The service was excellent. The leak was exactly where indicated. I managed to fix it myself. Thanks again to Werner."
THEODORE, HILLCREST HEIGHTS
