The short answer
To check for a hidden leak, turn off every tap and water appliance, note the numbers on your water meter, and don’t use any water for 30 to 60 minutes. If the reading has moved, or the small dial is turning, water is escaping somewhere. McDermott Plumbing can find and repair it: call (08) 6187 3999 or text 0406 882 648. If a licensed plumber repairs a hidden leak, you may be able to claim part of the lost water back from Water Corporation.
Signs you’ve got a hidden leak
- Your water bill is much higher than the same time last year and nothing else has changed.
- The meter moves when nothing in the house is running.
- A damp patch, lifting floor tiles, swollen skirting or a musty smell that keeps coming back.
- A patch of lawn or garden that stays green and soggy in summer.
- Water pressure dropping for no obvious reason.
- The sound of running water when everything is off.
Do the meter test yourself (10 minutes of effort)
- Turn off every tap and make sure the dishwasher, washing machine, evaporative air-con and reticulation aren’t running.
- Find your meter, usually near the front boundary, and write down or photograph the full reading. Many meters also have a small red dial or star wheel that spins with even a slow leak.
- Don’t use any water for 30 to 60 minutes. Overnight is even better.
- Check the meter again. If it has moved, water is escaping on your side of the meter.
- Now turn off the main stop tap at the meter and watch again. If the meter still moves with the stop tap off, the leak may be at the meter or on Water Corporation’s side. Call them on 13 13 75.
Where the leak usually is
One honest note: a shower that leaks through the floor or into the next room is often failed waterproofing, not a burst pipe. We’ll test the pipework and tell you which it is. If it’s the membrane, that’s a waterproofing or tiling job, and we’ll say so.
- Toilet cisterns running quietly into the bowl. Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and see if it shows up in the bowl without flushing.
- The hot water system’s relief valve running constantly instead of dripping during heating.
- The underground supply line between the meter and the house.
- Pipes in walls and under concrete slabs, including behind showers.
- Reticulation pipes and solenoids.
- Evaporative air-con supply lines on the roof.
How we find it
Most leaks are found by working methodically: meter checks, isolating parts of the system one at a time, and pressure testing the hot and cold lines separately. That narrows it down to one section before anything gets cut open.
Once we know where it is, we repair it, re-test it, and give you an invoice that describes the leak and the fix. Keep that invoice. It’s what Water Corporation asks for.
If a leak is deep under a slab and needs specialist electronic locating gear, we’ll tell you before anything is booked.
The Water Corporation leak allowance
If a hidden leak blew out your bill, Water Corporation may credit part of the lost water. Going by their published policy, you may be eligible if:
- The leak was hidden and not readily detectable, like an underground pipe or a pipe inside a wall.
- The water use charge on your recent bill was over $250, or your use was over 150 kL.
- A licensed plumber repaired leaks on your internal plumbing. For irrigation, a Waterwise Garden Irrigator can do the repair.
- The repair was done within 60 days of finding the leak or getting a high-use notice from Water Corporation.
- You apply within six months of the repair and include the plumber’s tax invoice.
What doesn’t count
Visible leaks from taps, toilet cisterns, shower heads, appliances, pools and spas don’t qualify, and the allowance doesn’t cover repair costs. For a reticulation leak, the system needs a manual isolation valve and a master solenoid. Check Water Corporation’s current page before you apply, because the rules can change.
Common questions
- How do I check my water meter for a leak?
- Turn off all taps and water appliances, record the meter reading, and use no water for 30 to 60 minutes. If the reading has moved or the small leak dial is spinning, you have a leak. If it still moves with the main stop tap turned off, call Water Corporation on 13 13 75.
- Can I get money back from Water Corporation for a leak?
- Possibly. Water Corporation may grant a leak allowance for hidden leaks repaired by a licensed plumber within 60 days, where the bill was over $250 or 150 kL. You apply within six months of the repair with the plumber’s invoice. Visible leaks from taps, cisterns and appliances don’t qualify.
- Does a running toilet count for the leak allowance?
- No. Leaks from toilet cisterns, taps and appliances count as visible leaks, so they’re excluded. Fix them early. A running cistern can waste a surprising amount of water.
- Who is responsible for a leak at the water meter?
- It depends on exactly where the leak is. For a standard house meter, anything from the plumber’s elbow towards the house is the owner’s. Between the elbow and the street, it’s Water Corporation’s. If you’re not sure, call Water Corporation on 13 13 75 and they’ll investigate.
- Why is my water bill so high?
- The usual causes are a hidden leak, a running toilet, a hot water relief valve discharging constantly, a reticulation fault, or simply more people or a new pool. Do the meter test first. If the meter moves with everything off, it’s a leak.
Related pages
Official sources
Last updated 29 September 2026. General information only. Every property is different, so call us to talk about yours.