Leak or Burst Pipe?

Thousands of litres of water is wasted every year in the UK when a frozen pipe bursts. We’ve provided you with some helpful tips to insure you’re not caught out this winter with expensive and stressful repairs.

When you move into a new home, make sure you know where your main stop valve is. In many new homes, it can be found under a sink in your kitchen or utility area. This is usually where the main supply of water enters your property.

If you have a burst pipe in your property, follow these simple steps:

• shut off the water at the main stop valve
• turn off your central heating to prevent damage (or even an explosion)
• open all taps to drain water from the pipes
• contact a plumber.

Leaks
Just like any other water company in the UK, Albion Water are bound by law to prevent water wastage caused by leaks on our network and ensure that our systems are as efficient as possible.

Not only does targeting leaks help us to conserve water, minimise impact on the environment, it can also reduce our costs and keep your charges down.

If you spot a leak, call us straight away on our Emergency number 0800 917 5819.

Not all leaks are visible. You can spot a leak in your property through:

• higher-than-usual meter readings
• damp patches around your property
• areas in your garden where plants continue to grow through a dry spell
• loss of water pressure
• the sound of running water in your property when none is being used.

If you suspect a leak on your property, simply make sure all taps are turned off and any other appliances or central-heating systems aren’t using any water. Watch your meter dials to see if they move, or take a meter reading and check again after an hour. If the second reading is higher than the first, you may have a leak.

Repairing a leak
If the leak is anywhere within your property boundary, you are responsible for repairing it. However, in cases where the leak is on your service pipe, we may be able to help you.

As part of Albion Water’s Leakage Code of Practice, we provide a leakage protection service free of charge for the first hour on the first occurrence of a suspected leak. Each subsequent hour will be charged at our standard hourly rate (see your area’s charges scheme for more information). You can also hire a plumber or a contractor to find the leak.

To find out more about how we can help you with your leak please contact Customer Service Team on 0845 604 2355 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri). Please note that our detection and repair services are not 24-hour emergency services. In the event of an urgent leak, please contact a reputable plumber.