Your water bill jumps for no obvious reason
If your habits haven't changed but the bill has crept up, it's worth checking for a leak, particularly on a pipe run hidden under a floor or behind a wall.
Damp patches, peeling paint or a musty smell
A patch of damp on a wall or ceiling, paint or wallpaper that's started to bubble, or a persistent musty smell in one part of the house can all point to water getting where it shouldn't.
Sounds of running water when nothing's on
If you can hear water moving through pipework when every tap and appliance is off, that's a strong sign of a leak somewhere in the system.
Your water meter keeps moving
Turn off every tap and appliance in the house, then check your water meter. Make a note of the reading, wait an hour without using any water, and check again. If it's moved, there's a leak somewhere on your supply.
What to do next
Hidden leaks rarely get better on their own. The longer one runs, the more it costs in both damage and repair bills, so if you spot any of the signs above it's worth getting it checked out before it turns into a bigger job.
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