What’s going on? It could be several things. You may have an old galvanised pipe that is rusting from the inside out. An underground supply line or fixture may have sprung a leak. Perhaps your hot water storage tank has corroded.

Another thing I’ve noticed is the yearly comparison figure for water usage has increased on my latest bill? That sounds like a leaking pipe. Have a good look from the water meter to your house for any damp patches or sudden tree growth that might confirm an underground water leak.

What happens now? We can send a Sharpe plumbing technician around straight away to pressure test your pipes using specialised diagnostic equipment. We will find the problem and fix it. We will also inspect and test your hot water system to make sure it hasn’t been affected by the dirty water and is running at peak efficiency for winter.

Great. Now I’m thinking about water usage. Can you help me reduce my overall water consumption? We can supply and install a range of affordable water-wise products, such as low-flow shower heads, flow regulators and tap aerators which can reduce your water usage by up to 50 per cent.