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[Sir Tigger KC]

As in bathroom plumbing and not my waterworks! 

I have a constant faint sound of running water in my bathroom, which is the sound of water running through the pipes rather than a leak.  It stops when I turn the water off at the main and I can't find any wet patches anywhere. 

It's a terraced house with a lean to extension on the back which has the bathroom and kitchen and it's the only place where there is any plumbing.  I've taken the bath panel off, some of the boxing that contains the pipe in the bathroom and removed one of the kitchen units to have a look behind and everything is dry!! 

I guess I'll just keep pulling stuff apart till I find what's causing it, but it's doing my bloody head in!!!!    Any thoughts Gents/Gentesses? 

[Andy B]

......  Any thoughts Gents/Gentesses? 

Toilet cistern's ball float? Some cisterns over flow outside where it's easy to see, others to the toilet pan, so if the overflow is over flowing into the pan it might not be that easy to see ...... just had this with the main bathroom's toilet (in that I've eventually 'just' fixed it after hearing the ball float valve leaking for ages  )

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

......  Any thoughts Gents/Gentesses? 

Toilet cistern's ball float? Some cisterns over flow outside where it's easy to see, others to the toilet pan, so if the overflow is over flowing into the pan it might not be that easy to see ...... just had this with the main bathroom's toilet (in that I've eventually 'just' fixed it after hearing the ball float valve leaking for ages  )

Yes. Look at this first.

[SIR Philbutt]

......  Any thoughts Gents/Gentesses? 

Toilet cistern's ball float? Some cisterns over flow outside where it's easy to see, others to the toilet pan, so if the overflow is over flowing into the pan it might not be that easy to see ...... just had this with the main bathroom's toilet (in that I've eventually 'just' fixed it after hearing the ball float valve leaking for ages  )

as andy said. if it's a button flush (not top type) check it's not sticking or the flex from it is free

hth

[Taxi_Driver]

......  Any thoughts Gents/Gentesses? 

Toilet cistern's ball float? Some cisterns over flow outside where it's easy to see, others to the toilet pan, so if the overflow is over flowing into the pan it might not be that easy to see ...... just had this with the main bathroom's toilet (in that I've eventually 'just' fixed it after hearing the ball float valve leaking for ages  )

as andy said. if it's a button flush (not top type) check it's not sticking or the flex from it is free

hth

Ive a button type flush and it sometimes does that.......sticks and keeps the flush going until i notice  (which can be several hours later) . Good job im not on a meter 

[Andy B]

......  Any thoughts Gents/Gentesses? 

Toilet cistern's ball float? Some cisterns over flow outside where it's easy to see, others to the toilet pan, so if the overflow is over flowing into the pan it might not be that easy to see ...... just had this with the main bathroom's toilet (in that I've eventually 'just' fixed it after hearing the ball float valve leaking for ages  )

as andy said. if it's a button flush (not top type) check it's not sticking or the flex from it is free

hth

Ive a button type flush and it sometimes does that.......sticks and keeps the flush going until i notice  (which can be several hours later) . Good job im not on a meter 

The cistern I had a problem with has an old fashioned ball float valve (aka ballcock) operated via a standard handle on the front, I just replaced the rubber diaphragm on it. The other cisterns in the house have the silent flush type which are far better, and if it give any more problems, that's what I'll fit in its place. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Nope not the loo, but thanks for the ideas! 

The loo dosn't have a traditional ball cock and siphon, but a float that goes up and down a pole and a flap valve to flush.  Before I went out today I pushed down the float and filled the cistern to just below the overflow pipe and when I got back 7 hours or so later it was the same.  So I don't think the flap valve is leaking or the float is faulty. 

The noise seems the loudest when I stick my head under the bath, but as said earlier it's all dry under there...... 

It's a mystery!! 

[martin42]

It could be the mains pipe leaking if it runs under the property

[Sir Tigger KC]

No the main runs along the back lane and comes through the garden and into the kitchen.  However where it enters the house it is in the general vicinity of where the sound is loudest, but also the sound goes when I turn off the stopcock which suggests to me that any leak is my side of the stopcock....   

If that makes sense? 

[Vamps]

We had this till last winter, it was the ball cock but in the cold water tank, not the toilet.....

[Sir Tigger KC]

It's a combi boiler so no tanks. 

[Rods2]

Next door neighbour had this where you could hear water running in their downstairs toilet where this was where the water main entered the house, but no leaks inside and no water in the garden. The £6500 water meter bill gave the clue and the waterboard out and it was the pipe between the water meter and the house, which was fixed by a combination of the waterboard and house insurance.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Luckily I'm not on a meter!!     

Maybe I'm wrong but I can't think that it's the water main as the sound stops when I turn the stopcock off.    I think I need to dismantle the kitchen a bit more as I couldn't reach right round to where the main enters the house.... 

I'm thinking about changing the kitchen so I might wait till then... 

[Vamps]

Luckily I'm not on a meter!!     

Maybe I'm wrong but I can't think that it's the water main as the sound stops when I turn the stopcock off.    I think I need to dismantle the kitchen a bit more as I couldn't reach right round to where the main enters the house.... 

I'm thinking about changing the kitchen so I might wait till then... 

So, somewhere, after the mains you do have a leak......   I would start with the mains in and work from there, could mean a bit of upheaval as  floor boards and plasterwork may be needed whilst fault finding........

[Taxi_Driver]

No the main runs along the back lane and comes through the garden and into the kitchen.  However where it enters the house it is in the general vicinity of where the sound is loudest, but also the sound goes when I turn off the stopcock which suggests to me that any leak is my side of the stopcock....   

If that makes sense? 

Is this the stopcock outside or the stopcock inside your property?
Either way check with your neighbours both sides that their water doesnt go off when you turn the stopcock off.....you could be sharing the mains with a neighbour and the leak is on their property.

Thats the situation with my house, i share the mains with next door, hence why i have no meter.