Mains-fed and bore retic
Reticulation leak detection in Perth
Reticulation leak detection in Perth starts with one question: does your retic run on scheme water or a bore? Leak Detection and Pipe Repairs Perth locates hidden retic leaks on both, then shows you where the pipe has failed so it can be repaired. We confirm the scope and price before you book.
- PL7390 Plumbing Licence
- GF13592 Gas Permit
- Master Plumbers WA
- A Plumbed Right Company
- 5.0 star Google reviews
Mains-fed or bore retic, the signs are different
A mains-fed system draws scheme water through your Water Corporation meter. A retic leak on it shows up as a meter that keeps moving with everything turned off, or a bill that climbs for no reason.
A bore system never touches the meter. Your bill stays the same, so the clues come from the pump and the garden.
"Had a retic leak at our property in Alkimos that was slowly pushing our water bill up every month. We couldn't see any obvious wet areas, so finding the leak ourselves was impossible." Christie, Alkimos
- Mains-fed: the meter moves with every tap and the controller off
- Mains-fed: a water bill higher than your normal use
- Bore: the pump starts or keeps running when no station is on
- Both: weak sprays, soggy ground or one patch of lawn greener than the rest
Supply side or retic lines, where the leak sits matters
Your retic has two parts. The solenoid valve for each station is the dividing line.
Before the solenoid
After the solenoid
Run a spring start-up check
Perth retic sits idle through winter. Before the first hot week, a few minutes of checking tells you whether you have a leak.
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Read the meter with everything off
Turn off every tap and the retic controller. Watch the meter for ten minutes. If it moves, water is leaving somewhere.
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Run each station in turn
Look for weak or uneven sprays, broken heads and water pooling where it should not.
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Listen to the bore pump
On a bore system, note whether the pump starts or cycles when no station is running.
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Call before you dig
If the meter moves or a zone will not hold pressure and you cannot see why, the leak is hidden. Book detection before anyone digs up the garden.
A leak you can see is usually a job for your retic tech. We locate the ones you cannot.
What we do, and what happens after we find it
We trace the leak on the supply pipe or the retic lines and document where the pipe has failed. Then we explain the findings and the next step for repair.
Repair is separate work. A retic technician usually repairs the retic lines. A licensed plumber repairs the water supply, and we can coordinate one for you, often our parent company Plumbed Right.
Pricing and the Water Corporation leak allowance
Retic jobs vary, so we confirm the scope and price before you book.
Retic leak questions
Can you find a leak in bore reticulation?
Yes. A bore leak never passes through your Water Corporation meter, so the bill will not show it. We work from the other signs instead: the pump running when no station is on, pressure loss and wet ground. Tell us what you have noticed when you book.
How much does reticulation leak detection cost?
Retic systems vary in size, layout and water source, so we confirm the scope and price before you book. Our outdoor leak detection page explains how our fixed-price detection works.
Should I call a retic tech or a leak detector first?
If you can see the problem, such as a broken sprinkler head or a split fitting, call your retic tech. If the meter keeps moving or a zone loses pressure and you cannot see why, the leak is hidden. That is when detection saves digging on a guess.
Is a retic leak covered by the Water Corporation leak allowance?
It can be, on a mains-fed system. A hidden irrigation leak may qualify for a partial credit if it meets Water Corporation's conditions. You apply with the repairer's invoice, within six months of the repair. Bore leaks do not affect your water bill, so the allowance does not apply.
Get my retic leak assessed
Tell us whether your retic runs on scheme water or a bore, and what you have noticed. We will confirm the scope and price.