A real brain teaser, its got me beat

[Derrick229]

Hi Lads,
Just been replumbing a house, they said they had a leak

They had a new main put in by 3 Valleys, great, no problem (no leaks)

They have a granny flat next door, and a valve that isolates the granny flat and the hotwater (this line feeds the combi boiler (it also isolates the hot water to EVERY WHERE)

I have run a new line to the bathroom, it feeds just the bath, hand basin and toilet

So is it clear so far ?

1st valve, isolates the whole place (main S/C)

2nd valve isolates the cold water in the granny flat, the hot water to the WHOLE house, the kitchen in the house and the outside tap

3rd valve isolates just the bathroom

Are you still with me ?

When I isolate the main valve (no 1) the water meter stops (this tells me that between the water meter and the main S/c is fine, no leaks)

I now shut off the 2nd valve which shuts off the granny flat, kitchen, outside tap and the hot water supply from the combi (the main valve is now open, of course)

With the main valve open and no 2 closed, I open no 3 valve (which feeds JUST the bathroom), no taps are open or dripping in the bathroom, the ball valve isnt letting by

BUT the meter is still going round, now common sense tells me that somewhere there is a leak, so there is going to be a damp patch or a puddle

There is nothing, the taps arent leaking, the pipework is dry, I can see all the pipework

I called the 3 valleys guy out, even he saw it, meter working, no damp patches, no dripping taps, dry pipe

Anyone got any ideas what the hell is happening, I been told by the 3 valleys guy the meter only works when there is a flow of water,

It only seems to be when the valve (no 3) that feeds the bathroom there is a flow, I cant find it

Anyone any ideas, because its got me buggered, 3 valleys are reluctant to dig the meter up, they say its fine (and as the leak is AFTER the meter, its the house owners problem)


(I have to be really honest, I think there is a fault on the meter)

 

[ferret]

have you tried it with valve 3 off as well with just 1 open?

 

[Derrick229]

Huh, there are only 3 valves there,
main SC, no 1,
granny flat no 2,
bathroom number no 3

So what do you mean all 3 with 1 open ?

 

[so-solar]

could be a toilet overflowing!!!!!! also check that any tanks or cisterns are full before you look at the meter

 

[easyt]

Is there (or has there been) an outside tap or watering system?
Is there a heating pipe leak and valve 3 supplying the F&E tank as well as bathroom?

 

[Derrick229]

could be a toilet overflowing!!!!!! also check that any tanks or cisterns are full before you look at the meter

Nope as I said the BV is fine, not dripping, nothing from the overflow

There are no tanks anywhere, all mains fed

 

[Derrick229]

Is there (or has there been) an outside tap or watering system?

There is but that is fed from SC No 2 (and when I shut no 2 it is isolated)

 

[Henno82]

Huh, there are only 3 valves there,
main SC, no 1,
granny flat no 2,
bathroom number no 3

So what do you mean all 3 with 1 open ?

re read it Derrick he said shut off valve 3 and put valve 1 on

 

[Derrick229]

re read it Derrick he said shut off valve 3 and put valve 1 on

Ah, right, there is nothing, the meter isnt running (and no water from the H/B, bath and WC) and this is with no 2 shut as well (which supplies the hot water)

 

[Derrick229]

If you can imagine a T, with the main S/c at the bottom, on the left is S/c no 2 on the right is S/C no 3,

All within 18 inches of each other

The cold feed to the bathroom is S/c no 3, pipe is going up the wall and is exposed (I pulled a bend to get above the ceiling) then picked up a push fit conector, then a T to feed the bath, then went on to supply the hand basin and WC

The pipe is dry and as far as I can see no damp patches, no drips, I isolated the WC, just in case that B/V was dripping, it wasnt, which just left the HB and bath on

Now if anyone can suss this out,I'll buy em a few pints, no matter where you are