Mains water leak

[hammerman]

I've not slept for a week with worry.

On a routine survey of our street, they found evidence of a leak in the main cold water supply to our house somewhere between the stop **** in the street and the rising main in the kitchen. The leak is not massive but it's there and needs sorting.

They couldn't find the exact area of the leak but suspect it to be in the front garden either under the pond or under some concrete steps.

After having a chat (off the record) with the guys doing the survey, they've agreed to not report the leak to their bosses providing i get insurance and then report the leak myself (i can here running water constantly from my rising main).

I got the insurance package from homeserve and i'm now waiting for a few months before i report it

But, i'm petrified i'm not going to be able to claim on this or i'm going to end up with a bill for thousands

Has anyone been in my situation and what was/can be done about it

TIA

[MustafaTickl]

Many have been in your situation and what was done about it was that quite a few ended up behind bars as a guest of Her Majesty. Don't be a fool, get someone in to dig along the incoming main and find the leak (you can do it yoursef if you can use a pick and shovel). A plumber can easily repair it. But as you can hear it it might only be that the joint of the incoming main to the rising main has gone, so look there first. If you get someone in it will only cost in the low hundreds, and much less if you do the digging yourself .

[hammerman]

It's the digging into 6 feet of SOLID concrete steps that i find a bit daunting (these ex 1950 council houses were built properly !!!)...the incoming main goes under these steps and under the fish pond (which is raised)

[kwicky]

With the 6' of concrete in mind rather than trying to repair the leak would it be possible to lay your own section of pipe and connect it to the mains at a more convenient location?

[CSG2306]

Hi,

First and foremost, don't be silly.

You are covered by insurance from the day you paid your premium. YOU ARE INSURED NOW. They sent you a form which you have completed, returned it and paid your money.

Contact the water authorities and inform them that you have a leak somewhere in the garden and ask them to repair it.

It is the same as your car breaking down on the motorway; you can call out the AA and join there and then and have the full benefit of their service.

Regards

[auldyin]

Just checked my own Homeserve Policy. Your insurance cover kicks in approx 14 days after your premium has been accepted and your order processed, you will receive a policy summary telling you when cover starts and ends. The 14 days delay is to prevent claims for existing damages. I would'nt do anything until you have received that policy summary as, in my case, there was a three week lapse from the time I paid my first premium until I got notification that I was now covered.
hope this helps!

[chimpydoodle]

The local water boad has a duty to repair it free of charge.

We recently had a leak from an underground pipe and it was on our property, this means it was our pipe by law but the water board fixed it free. We had to phone them lots and it took 6 days for them to come out but they did and it cost us nothing.

We looked into taking out a policy and waiting 14 days but there was no point. Firstly check your local waterboard website - they have a duty to reduce water wastage and this means repairing the leak, even if they won't guarantee a repair date they will have to do it. Ring your household insurer and confirm that any damage to your property eg damp will be covered by the policy and even if you leave the water to run for weeks you should still be covered providing you have accidental damage.

Our leak was in the side entry to the house and Severn Trent dug it up and put everything back, good as new!

Good luck with sorting it, hope everyting is ok. x

[hammerman]

Thanks for that. I had a chat with the guys who found the leak and they said that the water board are supposed to mend any leaking pipe which does not go under the house or any permenant out buildings. Once the pipe goes under my building, it's my responsibility.

However, the guys said that if fixing the pipe involved big excavations (eg digging up my concrete steps) they wont touch it.

I'm going to leave it a few months then contact homeserve and see what they say.

Thanks for the replies

[bullescroftr]

I had a very similar problem and this went on for months until I plucked up the courage to call the Water Board. They sent their inspector round and he said the leak could be anywhere from the kitchen to the stopcock in the street. I told him I had insurance with Homeserve and he said do not use them as there have been many complaints and suggested a local plumbing firm. I was then issued with an Order by the Water Board to get the repairs carried out within a certain time. How right he was - Homeserve said the leak was somewhere in the kitchen and botched up the job without putting it right. I called the local plumbing firm who did an excellent job. The leak was somewhere in the front of the house and it didn't cost much.