Leaking toilets, taps and showers could be costing customers hundreds of pounds a year

Customers can send Severn Trent a short video of the suspected leak which will be reviewed by an expert engineer 

If Severn Trent can’t fix the leak on a shower, tap or toilet free of charge, they will recommend a local WaterSafe accredited plumber 

 

Severn Trent is encouraging people to check for water leaks in their home which could be costing them hundreds of pounds each year. 

Customers might already be familiar with some basic water-saving tips around the house, such as cutting down shower times and not running the tap when brushing their teeth, but unseen leaks could mean that they're spending more than they need on their water bill. 

Severn Trent is making it easier than ever before to check whether there's a troublesome leak, by using a platform called Vyn. 

Customers can send a video of a suspected leak with their mobile phone to Severn Trent, where an expert engineer will review the footage and advise the customer whether they can fix it for free, or instead recommend a water safe plumber. 

Aeron Parsons, Water Efficiency Analyst at Severn Trent said: “Our customers were fantastic in thinking about the ways that they were using water during last year’s exceptionally hot and dry summer. However, the ongoing impacts from climate change and population growth mean that we all need to think about how we use water all year round.

“The great news is that by saving water, customers can potentially save a huge amount on their utility bills, just by making a few small changes around the home, such as reducing shower times from 10 to five minutes and reducing the number of washing machine runs each week.

“What people may not realise is that they may be losing a lot of water each year through leaking taps, toilets or showers. While it may not sound like much, a leaking loo could waste up to 400 litres of water each day – that's the same as 700 pints, or five full bathtubs – which could cost them £300 a year if they’re on a meter!”

Once received, Severn Trent’s team of expert engineers will review the video, and if they believe that there’s a leak, will either repair it free of charge, or provide details for a qualified WaterSafe plumber in the area. 

Aeron continued: “It can be tricky to tell whether your toilet, tap or shower is leaking but we’ve tried to make it really easy for customers to get an expert opinion from one of our engineers. Just by sending us a short video, we will be able to check whether there's a leak and support the customer in getting the repair made.” 

By making a few small changes to the ways that they use water, an average family of four could see savings of up to £1,300 a year by: 

 

Cutting daily shower times from 10 to 5 minutes - £700 a year

Switching off taps when brushing their teeth - £100 a year

Fixing a leaky toilet - £300 a year 

Changing to a low-flow shower head - £100 a year

Cutting out two dishwasher runs per week by only running with full loads - £75 a year

Cutting out two washing machine runs per week by only running with full loads - £50 a year

Dripping tap (2 drips/sec) - £15 a year

Constantly dripping taps - £90 a year
 

Customers may see an additional saving by switching to a water meter free of charge, as they only pay for what they use, which could generate savings vs a flat-rate bill.

For more information on how to report a suspected leak using the Vyn platform, visit stwater.co.uk and click on Send us a video of your problem or issue on the homepage.

If customers have any questions, they can call 0330 159 5070 between 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday to speak to one of the team.