Water Meter problems

[Craig-SM]

We've had a water meter fitted for quite a few years and with only 2 of us in the house we're not big consumers. We were averaging around 100m3 a year give or take a few until last year when it jumped up to 117m3 but being in Yorkshire we had a hose pipe ban for 14 weeks of the year so watering the lawn, plants or washing cars and windows so expect it to be substantially less especially when in the previous 2 years I have redone the lawn which take a lot of water to establish.
Spoken to Yorkshire Water and all the can say is I have leak somewhere and with at least 20m3 of water I thought I would have noticed, regardless I noted the water meter reading and then didn't use the water all day and the meter reading didn't move so I assume it's not a leak.
During the time we've had the water meter the toilet has been changed for an eco flush unit and the washing machine was a low water and energy one. The outdoor tap is secure from unauthorised use, i.e. the gates are padlocked after I found a window cleaner filling up his tank in the van and we don't even use a window cleaner.

Is there anything that I have overlooked or is possible for water meters to start over reading actual usage?

 

[Barking Mat]

Pressure release valve on not water tank, maybe ?

 

[bricol]

Would you notice a leak of 20m3 over a year in just one day of not using any?

Are all our reading, especially the last one you might be looking at, actual readings? I'm billed by Yorkshire Water too, and there's not that many actual readings - my last bill estimated my use had dropped by 4m3 for no apparent reason.

 

[Craig-SM]

Pressure release valve on not water tank, maybe ?

Sealed heating system. There is a pressure relief valve on the central heating boiler but not leaking as it runs next to the kitchen door so would be obvious

 

[harveyp6]

Are all our reading, especially the last one you might be looking at, actual readings? I'm billed by Yorkshire Water too, and there's not that many actual readings - my last bill estimated my use had dropped by 4m3 for no apparent reason.

If you have a meter why the hell are they sending you estimated readings?

What a wonderful country we live in.

 

[Robotstar5]

I've had a water meter for nearly 3 years and note the readings once month when I do the gas & electric, it's pretty stable apart from when we had the builders in mixing plaster, washing buckets etc. gave a noticeable increase that month.

 

[Craig-SM]

Would you notice a leak of 20m3 over a year in just one day of not using any?

Are all our reading, especially the last one you might be looking at, actual readings? I'm billed by Yorkshire Water too, and there's not that many actual readings - my last bill estimated my use had dropped by 4m3 for no apparent reason.

I would hope to notice that kind of leak in the house

Yes, actual to actual readings used for average calculations

 

[Craig-SM]

I've had a water meter for nearly 3 years and note the readings once month when I do the gas & electric, it's pretty stable apart from when we had the builders in mixing plaster, washing buckets etc. gave a noticeable increase that month.

That had been my experience but then having the hose pipe ban you would expect the water usage to go down on the previous years not increase by nearly 20%

 

[carbonarc]

Your Local Authority Trading Standards Department have authority to verify the accuracy of your potable water meter. Check their web site for details. Your water supply Utility should be advised of your findings concerning water usage and should check the meter for accuracy.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Should be easy enough to check a meter yourself with a 25l drum?

I don't know if heavy watering of a lawn would make much difference over a year of readings?
An ibc is 1m² and that takes about 2hrs to fill from my garden hose..

 

[carbonarc]

Another check for leaks to the water supply pipe to your property.
1. You will need access to the Utility valve in the street and be able to turn your property supply off.
2. Before you turn your supply off fill a container with water.
3. Turn the supply off at the Utility valve and wait around 15 minutes.
4. Fill a cup with water from the container and hold the cup under an upstairs cold water tap.
5. Turn the tap on and if the water in the cup is drawn into the supply pipe a leak is present identified by negative air pressure in the supply pipework.
Good luck.

 

[Agroshield]

Would you notice a leak of 20m3 over a year in just one day of not using any?

20m^3 per year is 55 litres per day.

What are the graduations on a water meter? I think the main digits are cubic metres, so it is about 1/20 m^3. Can the meter resolve/indicate that kind of change?

If you sub-divide it further, it is 40ml per minute, which is 8 teaspoons per minute.

Hide all the teaspoons and see if the consumption reduces.

 

[Agroshield]

4. Fill a cup with water from the container and hold the cup under an upstairs cold water tap.

That test only works if the cold water tap is fed by the mains. If the supply comes from a tank in the roof, you will not see anything.

 

[bricol]

If you have a meter why the hell are they sending you estimated readings?

What a wonderful country we live in.

They aim to read them every 6mths, at least every year. Billed quarterly. If they paid for more meter readers to read every meter for every bill, I suspect bills would go up. I'm okay with it.

 

[iNf]

Have you checked all the toilet cistern overflows?

 

[bricol]

20m^3 per year is 55 litres per day.

What are the graduations on a water meter? I think the main digits are cubic metres, so it is about 1/20 m^3. Can the meter resolve/indicate that kind of change?

If you sub-divide it further, it is 40ml per minute, which is 8 teaspoons per minute.

Hide all the teaspoons and see if the consumption reduces.

I don't think I'd notice it on my meter - a week of no use, maybe.

My meter is under my house, and when they installed the replacement one with transmitter for more remote readings, they managed to add leaks both sides of it. But it does mean the supply pipework to it across my garden from the useless stop cock down the road has no effect on my bills if it leaks.

 

[bricol]

Have you checked all the toilet cistern overflows?

That's a good one - modern ones draining into the pan - rather than a pipe poking out the bathroom wall where it was immediately obvious there was something wrong.

 

[harveyp6]

They aim to read them every 6mths, at least every year. Billed quarterly. If they paid for more meter readers to read every meter for every bill, I suspect bills would go up. I'm okay with it.

I was thinking you had a smart meter, so what I said to you doesn't apply.
I was forced to have a smart meter, because where it's fitted isn't on my property.
They don't trust me enough to pay quarterly, I have to pay every month.

 

[Craig-SM]

20m^3 per year is 55 litres per day.

What are the graduations on a water meter? I think the main digits are cubic metres, so it is about 1/20 m^3. Can the meter resolve/indicate that kind of change?

If you sub-divide it further, it is 40ml per minute, which is 8 teaspoons per minute.

Hide all the teaspoons and see if the consumption reduces.

The meter shows cubic meters in black and a further 3 digits in red so down to 1,000 ml so over a day (8 hours) of not using it hasn't even used 1 litre.

 

[Craig-SM]

That test only works if the cold water tap is fed by the mains. If the supply comes from a tank in the roof, you will not see anything.

Yes, mains fed

Have you checked all the toilet cistern overflows?

Checked that previously with loo roll draped around the bowl and remained dry.