Leak Detection Guide
If you know how to detect and fix a leak, you can remedy issues swiftly before they worsen.
The first is monitoring your monthly water usage. You will soon spot water losses. While leaks from dripping taps and toilets are easily spotted, underground or undetected leaks are often a bigger cause of waste. By being alert, you can save money and protect our water resources.
This guide covers water leak detection, repair, reporting, and prevention, as well as the nitty-gritty of costs and insurance.
If you experience any of the following plumbing issues, you are possibly dealing with a water leak:
Are there inexplicable changes to your monthly water consumption but no visible leak? Or are you experiencing any of the other water leak indicators as listed above? Here's how you search for hidden leaks on your property:
Stop the water flow. Turn off all water on the premises. No water should be passing through the water meter - no flushing of toilets.
Record the water meter reading directly after stopping the water flow.
Check the water reading again after 15 minutes. If you still see the meter move while all taps are off, you likely have an underground, geyser, or toilet water leak. These sources often direct water outside or to sewage systems that are difficult to detect through superficial inspection.
Turn off the isolation taps to toilets and recheck the water meter. Note any changes.
Switch off the geyser’s stop tap and recheck the meter once more. Again, note any changes.
If you have a pool, check if the leak is coming from there. View instructions below.
If the water meter still runs after eliminating the above possibilities, you likely have a leak underground or behind a wall. However, only a water leak detection specialist can pinpoint the problem. They will need to test and identify the problem with a specialised water leak detector and repair it accordingly.
Like finding a leak indoors, you can detect a leak in your pool through a process of elimination. In doing so, you will see if the pipe system, structural issues, or fittings are to blame.
There are several approaches to detecting a water leak sub-surface. Yet, they are more complex and depend on the property’s construction type. You will need a leak detection specialist’s assistance in such a situation.
In the meantime, you can isolate the general location of the leak by:
After these steps, the specialist can use a leak detection method to find the affected area. Tracer gas, a penetrating underground scanner, or audio/sonic systems are sure to detect a leak with superior accuracy.
The expert leak detection team will then excavate a small area and repair the damaged or faulty pipe.
Time to get the professionals in?
After completing the leak detection steps above and identifying whether the leak is on your property or beyond, you can assess where to report a water leak to arrange repairs.
Your options are:
The city council is responsible for leaks outside your property's boundary.
Contact the City of Cape Town’s call centre at 0860 103 089 and choose option 2. Alternatively, visit the City of Cape Town online fault reporting page and create a service request or visit the City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation Department website.
You are responsible for addressing leaks within the boundary lines of your single-title private property unless you are indigent. This goes for residential, industrial, or commercial properties. In these cases, you should contact your preferred leak detection and plumbing professional to resolve the issue.
After urgently addressing the problem, the plumber will issue a report specifying the details of the leak.
Use the leak detection report to communicate water usage due to pipe bursts or leaks beyond your control to the city council to apply for a rebate. You can also use the leak detection report to assist in insurance claims.
In the case of private sectional-title properties, water leaks need to be reported directly to the body corporate or a trustee of the complex. These representatives (or a leak detection expert of their choice) should determine if the leak is on private, shared, or council property. You can then report the leak accordingly (either to the municipality or a private specialist) and continue with the necessary repairs.
You can fix certain water leaks with basic skills. However, some leakage issues require advanced expertise. So, before taking to your toolkit, gauge the difficulty level of the necessary repairs. More complex leaks, such as those underground or within walls, are best left to a seasoned leak detector and plumber.
If you believe you are up to the task, here are three ways to fix an accessible water leak.
Remember to turn off the water supply and dry the area before working on pipes.
This temporary fix is ideal for stopping a leak while waiting for the plumber to arrive or purchasing the necessary supplies to repair the pipe.
Put on gloves and knead the epoxy putty until it has a consistent colour.
Mould the putty around the leak, ensuring the layer is roughly 1.3 cm thick.
Flatten and tape the putty’s edges for a watertight seal.
Wait 10 minutes for the putty to harden before turning the water supply back on.
Purchase the correct size pipe clamp. It should be long enough to cover the leaking pipe.
Position the rubber gasket on the leak and hold it in place.
Place the clamp over the gasket and tighten the bolts with a wrench.
Find a slip coupling of the same diameter, material, and type as the leaking pipe. Ensure it is long enough to replace the leak.
Use the slip coupling to mark where you need to cut the leaking pipe.
Cut out the faulty section with a pipe cutter or hacksaw.
Scrape inside and outside the remaining pipe's cut ends with a deburring tool.
Fit, secure, and tighten the slip coupling onto the cut ends of the pipe.
If the leak is too complicated for you to fix, our professional plumbing team can help!
Rainfall and dam levels vary in South Africa, making water a scarce resource. Being water-wise is vital, so here are ways to limit the chance of water wastage at your home or business.
Water leaks can quickly become expensive, especially when severe. Two costs are relevant here: the cost of the water loss and the cost of detecting and fixing the issue. The sooner you react, the less you will spend on the first charge.
You can calculate the total water leak cost after confirming the increased water usage for the month on your municipal bill and adding the service fees for leak detection and repairs after the work is complete.
The location, cover type, and size of the affected area are some factors that determine the cost of water leak detection. As a result, the procedure can vary from an hour to multiple days of labour.
Leak detection services typically cost R1 500 (excl. VAT) per hour but depend on the provider and the distance to your property. Materials and consumables, like tracer gas, will also impact the total.
How much will Cape Town Leak Detection and Plumbing charge me?
Water leaks may be inconvenient and expensive, but there is good news: property insurance will likely cover related fees. Structural insurance is designed to assist with the cost of sudden and active leaks, like a burst water pipe, not caused by general wear and tear.
The property owner or insurance company will appoint a water leak detector to locate the leak and repair it accordingly. Once repairs are complete, you will receive a leak detection report, which you can use to apply for a water rebate from the municipality or submit an insurance claim.
If you want a more comprehensive home insurance policy, consult your insurance company or broker to discuss possible inclusions of defects relating to water leaks.
