I can hear water in my pipes

[Abby King]

Hi I wonder if anyone can give some some advice.
Moved into my house 3 weeks ago and over the last week I have noticed I can hear water running in the cold water pipes in the bathroom, airing cupboard and down by the stopcock in the kitchen.

We have changed the float in the tank in the loft and whilst the stopcock was off the noise stopped. We have turned all of the appliances off and we can still hear the sound. Checked all taps. We cannot find where the source of the noise is coming from but we are pretty sure it’s it the cold water pipes.

I am really worried we have a leak somewhere. Any advice as to where it could be? Or if not is it normal to hear the sound of water in pipes?

I have NO idea about plumbing at all so any advice would be appreciated. We also do not have a meter in our house.
Thank you in advance!

 

[Ben-gee]

Pretty obvious that you need to get a plumber round to look.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

check your toilet, might be overflowing into pan and you may not have noticed.

 

[Abby King]

Pretty obvious that you need to get a plumber round to look.

Thank you for your comment. As a first time homeowner I thought I would ask on a plumbing forum for some plumbing advice before I spent money getting someone out in the instance it was something obvious. But again, thank you

 

[Abby King]

check your toilet, might be overflowing into pan and you may not have noticed.

Thank you I will do that now!

 

[Aire]

What construction are the floors in your property and where does the pipework run from the stop tap? If water was continually running through your cold mains pipe, a tell tale sign is condensation gathering round the stop tap and pipe work leading from it. As above, check all tanks in lofts etc, also toilets. If they're all fine then be best to call a plumber in.

 

[Riley]

Are you on a meter??

 

[Abby King]

Are you on a meter??

No I am not!

 

[Abby King]

What construction are the floors in your property and where does the pipework run from the stop tap? If water was continually running through your cold mains pipe, a tell tale sign is condensation gathering round the stop tap and pipe work leading from it. As above, check all tanks in lofts etc, also toilets. If they're all fine then be best to call a plumber in.

We have floorboards and I know the water comes in behind our washing machine. I’m not sure where the pipes go after that but we are going to have a good look later on and I will see if we can see any condensation when we do so. Thanks very much for your advice! Much appreciated

 

[Burger]

What made you change the float in the tank? Was it overflowing? Could be an unbalanced supply issue.

 

[Abby King]

What made you change the float in the tank? Was it overflowing? Could be an unbalanced supply issue.

My dad changed it as our old one was very old had a lot of Limescale on it and we just wanted to illuminate it really!

 

[Chalked]

My dad changed it as our old one was very old had a lot of Limescale on it and we just wanted to illuminate it really!

Lighting it up won’t work

 

[Burger]

Are you able to isolate the feeds to anything via an isolation valve? If so try turning them off.

 

[Abby King]

Lighting it up won’t work

Apologies! It’s been a long day! Eliminate is what it was supposed to say!

 

[Abby King]

Are you able to isolate the feeds to anything via an isolation valve? If so try turning them off.

We have already isolated all of the appliances in the kitchen with no luck unfortunately

 

[Burger]

We have already isolated all of the appliances in the kitchen with no luck unfortunately

What about the bathroom taps, the wc cistern, loft cold water cisterns?

 

[Abby King]

What about the bathroom taps, the wc cistern, loft cold water cisterns?

I’m pretty sure my dad did turn the bathroom taps and toilet valves off but I think it’s might be worth trying it again to be sure as it’s hard to hear 100% with kids in the house! I’ll give it another go now they are asleep. Thank you for your advice it’s appreciated!

 

[Last Plumber]

I have noticed I can hear water running in the cold water pipes in the bathroom, airing cupboard and down by the stopcock in the kitchen.

Is this running sound like the hissing of pressure through pipes or is it a trickling sound? Can you describe it?

 

[Abby King]

Is this running sound like the hissing of pressure through pipes or is it a trickling sound? Can you describe it?

It is not a trickling as it is a constant sound all of the time. To me it sounds like water but I couldn’t rule out that it is hissing. It that common of pipes to hiss?

 

[Burger]

I’m pretty sure my dad did turn the bathroom taps and toilet valves off but I think it’s might be worth trying it again to be sure as it’s hard to hear 100% with kids in the house! I’ll give it another go now they are asleep. Thank you for your advice it’s appreciated!

No worries. As Craig has said, are any of the cold water pipes heavily condensated? Only other location you might be able to check is under the bath panel, failing that, you may need to enlist a plumber.

 

[Last Plumber]

It is not a trickling as it is a constant sound all of the time. To me it sounds like water but I couldn’t rule out that it is hissing. It that common of pipes to hiss?

It's hard to describe in words I know. If it stopped when you had the main stopcock off, it must be after that (obviously) and if nothing appears to be dripping, no ball cocks are passing etc, than you may have a leak. It might be time to get a Plumber to look into it for you.

 

[Last Plumber]

Just another thought. Sometimes a burst below ground outside can be heard resonating through pipework. I have know that sound to deaden slightly on closing the stopcock but not very often. As I said and others earlier in the post, a Plumber should be able to track it down.

 

[Abby King]

No worries. As Craig has said, are any of the cold water pipes heavily condensated? Only other location you might be able to check is under the bath panel, failing that, you may need to enlist a plumber.

We are just about to have a look on the pipes to see if they are condensated as this isn’t something we had thought of. Good shout on the bath panel thank you! Appreciate your advice!

 

[Abby King]

It's hard to describe in words I know. If it stopped when you had the main stopcock off, it must be after that (obviously) and if nothing appears to be dripping, no ball cocks are passing etc, than you may have a leak. It might be time to get a Plumber to look into it for you.

My partner thinks it is more of a hiss, it almost seems too constant to be a large amount of water as our loft tank is not draining. Thank you for your advice we are looking at all of these suggestions as we speak. Of course we will call a plumber if we can’t find out what it is but it’s really helpful!!

 

[Abby King]

Just another thought. Sometimes a burst below ground outside can be heard resonating through pipework. I have know that sound to deaden slightly on closing the stopcock but not very often. As I said and others earlier in the post, a Plumber should be able to track it down.

My dad did mention that actually, that the sound could just be travelling through our pipes. Again, it’s really helpful thank you for helping me out!

 

[Abby King]

Just an update! We just turned the stopcock off and the noise reduces but it does not stop completely. I’m hoping this means that it could be before our house and we are simply hearing feedback from it. Also there is no condensation on our pipes. Thank you everyone for your advice as it has really helped us this evening!

 

[Aire]

Is your house a detached, a semi or a terraced? Do you share a mains supply with your neighbour or do you have an independent supply?

 

[Abby King]

Is your house a detached, a semi or a terraced? Do you share a mains supply with your neighbour or do you have an independent supply?

Our house is a Semi detached. I’ll be honest I don’t know if it is attached or not. I am having a look at my deeds now!

 

[Burger]

If not on anyone else’s, then you may have an underground burst, on your main.

 

[Abby King]

If not on anyone else’s, then you may have an underground burst, on your main.

Am I right in saying that we would be able to see a loss of water in our tank if this were the case?

 

[Burger]

Am I right in saying that we would be able to see a loss of water in our tank if this were the case?

No, a loss of water from your tank would indicate a leak or overflowing issue. Which tank?

 

[Abby King]

No, a loss of water from your tank would indicate a leak or overflowing issue. Which tank?

Ah okay I see! I meant our cold water storage tank in the loft. I guess what I mean is that if it is the pipe supplying our house then The water board may help us out?

 

[Aire]

Ah okay I see! I meant our cold water storage tank in the loft. I guess what I mean is that if it is the pipe supplying our house then The water board may help us out?

The pipe supplying your house is your responsibility. Only the boundary stop tap and everything before it is the water boards responsibility. Your best bet is to confirm whether you do or do not have a leak on your mains and then contact to your insurance company and see if your pipes are covered.

 

[Abby King]

The pipe supplying your house is your responsibility. Only the boundary stop tap and everything before it is the water boards responsibility. Your best bet is to confirm whether you do or do not have a leak on your mains and then contact to your insurance company and see if your pipes are covered.

Okay thank you very much for your advice!

 

[Burger]

Okay thank you very much for your advice!

Depending who your water supplier is, they may still be able to assist, as a one off on your main. If it’s in the house they will not. See this for a bit more clarity: https://www.unitedutilities.com/glo...le-guide-to-pipes-drains-and-sewers-acc16.pdf

Why did you ask about the tank, is it losing water?

 

[Abby King]

Depending who your water supplier is, they may still be able to assist, as a one off on your main. If it’s in the house they will not. See this for a bit more clarity: https://www.unitedutilities.com/glo...le-guide-to-pipes-drains-and-sewers-acc16.pdf

Why did you ask about the tank, is it losing water?

I did read this on our local water board website so I’m going to give them a call first thing tomorrow and ask. Thank you for the information.
We’re pretty sure it isn’t no! That’s the first thing we checked.

 

[Burger]

I did read this on our local water board website so I’m going to give them a call first thing tomorrow and ask. Thank you for the information.
We’re pretty sure it isn’t no! That’s the first thing we checked.

Are you seeing a loss of water in your tank?

 

[Abby King]

Are you seeing a loss of water in your tank?

No we are pretty sure we are not seeing a loss of water

 

[Abby King]

I have contacted my water board and they are coming to look next Friday at the pipe between our stopcock and the one on the street. I think it’s possible we have a leak on the mains supply, if this is the case is my house at a big risk at the moment? I’m really worrying that it’s going to be left for a week before it gets looked at. They did mention that if it’s a small leak they may be able to fix it free of charge so I’m really hoping this is the case!

 

[Last Plumber]

I have contacted my water board and they are coming to look next Friday at the pipe between our stopcock and the one on the street. I think it’s possible we have a leak on the mains supply, if this is the case is my house at a big risk at the moment? I’m really worrying that it’s going to be left for a week before it gets looked at. They did mention that if it’s a small leak they may be able to fix it free of charge so I’m really hoping this is the case!

Don't panic. If you knew how much water was leaking all over the country you would be amazed. I am not saying that an underground leak like the one you may have can't do damage but it is unlikely in my opinion. I haven't come across that much damage caused by underground bursts during my working life.
If it is something they will not fix then you will need to employ a Plumber to sort it for you. It is your responsibility if it is on your property. They will advise you when they see you next week on the best course of action.
Underground water mains can be difficult to find and in a lot of cases they are better replaced. How old is the property?
Do you know what the main is made of?

 

[Abby King]

Don't panic. If you knew how much water was leaking all over the country you would be amazed. I am not saying that an underground leak like the one you may have can't do damage but it is unlikely in my opinion. I haven't come across that much damage caused by underground bursts during my working life.
If it is something they will not fix then you will need to employ a Plumber to sort it for you. It is your responsibility if it is on your property. They will advise you when they see you next week on the best course of action.
Underground water mains can be difficult to find and in a lot of cases they are better replaced. How old is the property?
Do you know what the main is made of?

Thank you so much for your reply that has put my mind at rest! Is it likely to be a really expensive job if the water board cannot fix it? The property was built in the 60’s, it’s an ex council house. I don’t I’m afraid, we aren’t sure where the pipes lead either. Again thank you so much!

 

[Last Plumber]

Thank you so much for your reply that has put my mind at rest! Is it likely to be a really expensive job if the water board cannot fix it? The property was built in the 60’s, it’s an ex council house. I don’t I’m afraid, we aren’t sure where the pipes lead either. Again thank you so much!

It depends on distance, ground, whether a mole can be used or it needs excavation. There are many if's and but's.
One step at a time. See what they say first. Then come back and let us know if you need more advice.
If it was the 60's I would guess it is Copper or Black alkathene but I could be wrong. It doesn't really matter anyway, it will get sorted whatever it is.

 

[Abby King]

I understand, I’m a bit of a worrier unfortunately so always thinking of the worst. I will wait and see what the water board say and go from there. I really do appreciate your help, it’s much appreciated