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More frequently asked questions
How do I read my water meter?
Firstly, make sure that there is no known water consumption in your property. Check washing machines, dishwashers etc. Wait 30 minutes after flushing a toilet, sometime they take an age to finish filling. Find your boundary or meter box. Watch the fine movement cog or arm. This is very sensitive, even a dripping tap will make it move. Video your meter for 3 to 5 minutes and compare the starting and ending position of the fine movement cog/arm or the "100ml" clock (see picture). Any movement indicates water consumption or a leak. Turning off your internal stopcock and watching the meter again will tell you if the leak is internal or external - if there is still movement with the internal stopcock closed the leak is external.
What does a "salts test" prove?
A salts test is used to determine whether the source of the moisture in construction materials is from the ground or is "treated" water. The small container in the photo is the test for ground water. It will be RED if nitrates are present, nitrates come from the ground therefore the moisture has spent time in the ground and picked up the nitrates. This is "rising damp".
The larger contain is testing for chlorides. Chlorides are present in treated water that comes from your utility company's water supply (mains water). If the solution is YELLOW then chlorides are present, therefore the water has come from a water system supplied by mains water i.e. central heating system, hot or cold water supply or a waste/soil pipe.
The photo shows no nitrates and no chlorides so the test is "inconclusive". This usually means that the moisture is from pure uncontaminated water. This is possibly rain water or flood/run-off water that has not come from a mains supply in been in contact with the ground for any length of time.
What does a growing stain on the ceiling indicate?
This indicates that there is water soaking through your ceiling. You may not have a "wet room" (room supplied with water) directly above the stain however, water tracks along pipes, joists, beams and above plasterboard. We have endoscopes (small cameras) to access ceiling voids to trace the leak.
IF YOU HAVE WATER RUNNING THROUGH A LIGHT FITTING DO NOT USE THE LIGHTS UNTIL CHECKED BY AN ELECTRICIAN.
IF THE CEILING IS TEXTURED ("ARTEX") IT MAY CONTAIN ASBESTOS - DO NOT DISTURB IT.
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