An unexpectedly high water bill has a few common explanations: an extra person at home, a guest-filled month, a new irrigation timer, or a leak nobody has noticed. Before you pay for leak detection, you can narrow it down yourself with the meter, a notepad and about an hour without using water.
The meter test
Find your water meter. It may be outside the property or in a shared meter room, so check that you are reading the correct one, especially in an apartment block.
- Turn off every tap and water-using appliance, and make sure no one will use water during the test.
- Let the roof tank fill and the toilets finish refilling.
- Take a photo of the meter reading, including any small dials.
- Wait at least an hour without using water. Overnight is even better.
- Take a second photo and compare them.
If the reading has not moved, there is unlikely to be a continuous leak on the supply side. If it has moved, water is going somewhere, and the next step is to find out where.
Where to look in a Maltese home
The roof tank
Many Maltese homes feed a roof tank from the mains. A worn float valve can let water keep running in, sending it out through the overflow. Go up and look at the tank and overflow pipe. A stain or steady trickle on the roof is a strong clue, and the cost is often small compared with the wasted water. While you are up there, see our guide to roof tank care.
If the float valve looks fine, close the valve feeding the tank and repeat the meter test. If the meter still moves, the leak is probably between the meter and that valve, or on something fed directly by the mains. That is a useful result to give a plumber.
Toilets
A running cistern can waste water quietly all day. Add a few drops of food colouring to the cistern, wait around 20 minutes without flushing, then look in the bowl. Colour in the bowl means the flush valve is leaking.
Water heaters and solar systems
Check the pressure relief drain from your geyser and any solar water heater on the roof. A constant drip or a wet patch can mean a valve or pipe needs attention.
Taps, irrigation and the yard
A dripping tap is easy to spot. An irrigation system with a split underground line is not. Look for a patch of unusually green garden, soft ground, or a timer running more often than you thought.
Clues that a pipe is leaking inside a wall or floor
- Damp patches that do not change with the weather
- Tiles that lift, or grout that stays dark
- Paint bubbling on a wall carrying pipes
- The sound of running water when everything is off
- Pumps that start when no one is using water
A leak inside the structure can cause damage well beyond the water it wastes, so turn off the supply if the damage is spreading. Our emergency plumber guide explains what to do while you wait for help.
Who to call, and what to tell them
For a visible fault such as a float valve or cistern, a plumber is the right first call. If the meter shows a leak and you cannot find it, consider a leak detection specialist. Send your two meter photos, the time between them, and the results of each check. That can save time on site.
Dealing with the bill
Keep your dated meter photos and repair invoices. Contact your water provider or billing provider to ask whether your reading can be checked and whether any relief applies after a repaired leak. Ask for the answer in writing, since we cannot promise an adjustment will be available. Tenants should report a suspected leak to the landlord in writing, and our guide to rental repairs covers who usually handles what.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if I have a water leak in Malta?
Stop all water use, wait for tanks and cisterns to fill, and take a meter reading. Check it again after at least an hour without using water. If the reading has changed, you may have a leak or a valve that is letting water through.
Can a roof tank cause a high water bill?
Yes. If the float valve does not close properly, water can keep flowing in and escape through the overflow. Check the overflow and tank during your leak test.
Should I call a plumber or a leak detection specialist?
Call a plumber when you can see the problem, such as a running toilet or dripping valve. A leak detection specialist is more useful when the meter shows water loss but you cannot see where it is going.