Leak repair in Totterdown

Signs of a hidden leak

Not every leak drips where you can see it. Watch out for:

• Brown or yellow stains on ceilings, often under a bathroom
• Damp patches, bubbling paint or loose tiles
• A musty smell in a cupboard or under the stairs
• Floorboards that feel soft or have lifted
• The sound of running water when everything is turned off
• A heating system that keeps losing pressure

A simple check you can do

If you have a water meter, turn off every tap and appliance, note the reading, and leave it for an hour without using any water. If the number has moved, water is escaping somewhere. Your meter is usually in the pavement outside, near the external stop tap, or sometimes inside where the supply pipe enters the house.

Where leaks start in older homes

Most houses in Totterdown are Victorian terraces. Over a century or more, their plumbing has usually been altered many times. We often find:

• Compression joints that have loosened over time
• Pipes that have been nicked by a nail or screw during building work
• Worn washers and seals on taps, toilets and valves
• Shower trays and baths where the seal has failed and water gets behind the tiles
• Corroded radiator valves and old heating pipework

Limescale plays a part too. Bristol Water describes its water as moderately hard to very hard, and scale can stop valves and washers seating properly, so they weep instead of sealing.

How we find and fix leaks

1. We talk it through on the phone. Where the water is showing, when it appears and what is above or near it. That often narrows things down before we arrive.
2. We trace the source. Water travels along joists and pipes, so the stain is not always directly below the leak. We start with the most likely culprits and work outwards.
3. We open up as little as possible. If a floorboard or panel has to come up, we will tell you first.
4. We repair it. Replacing the failed joint, section of pipe, washer or seal.
5. We check it holds. With the water back on and under pressure.

Leaks between neighbours

In a terrace, water does not always respect party walls. If a damp patch appears on a shared wall and you cannot find a source on your side, it may be coming from next door. It is worth talking to your neighbour early, because it is usually quicker to sort out together.

Leaking supply pipes

The pipe from the external stop tap in the pavement into your house is yours to maintain. The section from the water main to that stop tap is normally the water company’s. If water is bubbling up in the pavement, contact Bristol Water. If it is inside your boundary, we can help.