

They’re Not All Financial…
It’s just a little drip. How troublesome could it be? It seems insignificant. Hardly anything to fuss over. Plus, you only notice when you’re near, making it a classic case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Then when you do remember at the right time, it’s quickly lands in the too hard basket. We understand. Life is busy. Ain’t nobody got time for that. The truth is this, Ignoring a leaky tap is costing you more than you realise.
Precious Resources Wasted
Australia receives an average of 419 mm per year of rainfall – making us the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Supporting the notion that fresh water is one of most valued resources, it’s absolutely key, first and foremost, to point out the environmental impact of a leaking tap. While it’s easy to say one household has minimal impact, the reality is there are very likely thousands of houses representing the same issue and a dismissive attitude just exacerbates the broader environmental issue. A clean water supply is not something to be taken for granted and if more households took a few moments to review and address something as simple as a leaking tap, it could have far reaching positive impact on the environment.
Money Down The Drain, Literally
Yarra Valley Water mentions in a ‘Tips to get water-wise this summer’ article that fixing a leaking tap, “could save you 16,000 litres per household per year”. Wow!
We did some mental mischief maths on this…
In Melbourne, if a litre of water is charged at approximately 0.007c then fixing that leaky tap would save $112. That’s 10% of the average annual bill. Aside from all the other important reasons, why wouldn’t you get that leak fixed! Doing so will pay for itself.
Prevent Mould and Mildew
Now this is a difficult one to put a price on. How does one measure good health?
A leaking tap creates a constant source of moisture, fostering the perfect environment for mould and mildew to thrive. Mould spores, naturally present in the air, need moisture to grow, and the consistent dampness from a leak accelerates their development. This growth poses significant health risks, as mould releases tiny spores into the air that, when inhaled, can cause respiratory issues, allergies, and other complications. Individuals with asthma or preexisting respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable, with prolonged exposure potentially leading to severe health problems.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson so aptly states; “The first wealth is health.”
Avoid Expensive Repairs
An unattended leak does more than waste water and money—it could cause significant damage to your home. Persistent water exposure risks the structural integrity of walls and floors, leading to anything from unsightly damage to serious stability issues. Additionally, leaks can weaken your plumbing system over time, increasing the likelihood of more extensive and expensive repairs in the future.
Minor issues rarely fix themselves and usually just tend to worsen over time, resulting in additional leaks and higher repair costs. The truth is that it’s really best to get ahead of the issues.
Behind the Curtains
Rather obviously, a dripping tap is a sure sign you’ve got a leak, but are there other sneaky leaks hiding behind the curtains, so to speak?
One simple test, that almost anyone can conduct to see if there are leaks that are not obvious, is to turn off all the water using equipment around your home, find your water meter and take note of the reading. Ensuring no one turns any water on during the time, wait an hour and see if there’s been any change to the meter reading. With nothing drawing water from the mains, this read out should not move at all and any shift very likely suggests you have a leak that you might not have known about. Assuming it’s not been obvious, this is definitely time to get the pros in. With specialised equipment and experience is hunting down hidden leaks, they’ll get to the bottom of the mystery with as little impact as practical.
If You Suspect You’ve Got a Leak
Or if it’s obvious there is one. It’s all good. We’re here to help.
Melbourne Plumbing Group has fixed a leak or two in our time. We know what the look for, how far back down the line to review and the steps to take to ensure you get a favourable outcome.