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That tiny drip could be costing you gallons, and your garden won’t thank you for it. In Adelaide, where summers feel longer and drier every year, most households become far more aware of how much water they use. Lawns brown off quicker, plants look thirsty by lunchtime, and the water bill somehow always climbs a little higher between December and March. Yet, the one thing people often overlook is the outside tap. The hose connection. The old irrigation fitting that “only leaks a little when you turn it on.”
Those small leaks add up. And outdoors, because nothing pools on the floor the way it does inside, it’s easy to ignore the waste happening right in front of you.
Why outdoor leaks hit harder in Adelaide
A slow, steady drip from an outdoor tap can waste hundreds of litres a week in summer. If the leak is at a hose connection that stays under pressure, the loss is even greater. And because it’s outside, most people assume the water is “just running into the soil,” so it doesn’t feel as wasteful as an indoor leak. Unfortunately, SA Water doesn’t see it that way when the bill arrives.
Common leak spots people miss
A lot of Adelaide homes still have original brass taps on the external brickwork. Many of them are decades old. They usually develop leaks in predictable areas:
- worn jumper valves
- perished O-rings
- loose or cracked hose fittings
- corroded tap bodies
- ageing irrigation connectors that no longer seal properly
But the bigger problem is what you can’t see. Irrigation leaks can run unnoticed underground for weeks. A tiny split in poly pipe, hidden under mulch, may only show up as a faint wet patch that you think is “just from watering.” We’ve traced leaks like that where the homeowner had no idea they were losing litres every hour.
Why summer makes leaks worse
Heat stresses your plumbing. Metal expands. Seals dry out. Hoses left in direct sun become brittle by January. All of this means a harmless drip in early spring can turn into a constant trickle once the summer heat hits.
You might also run the tap far more during hot months, topping up the pool, running sprinklers, rinsing off the dog, so any small weakness becomes more obvious. Adelaide’s hard water also plays a part, slowly wearing tap internals down.
How to check your outdoor taps properly
Most people do a quick glance, tighten the tap, and move on. A proper check means:
- turning the tap on fully and watching the stem for weeping
- checking the connection to the wall for hairline cracks
- attaching the hose and checking for leaks under pressure
- running your hand underneath the tap body (quickly some spiders love it there)
- inspecting the first few metres of irrigation after turning it on
These small steps can stop a summer leak long before it becomes a frustratingly high water bill.
When to call Horncastle Plumbing
Some leaks are simple fixes. A washer replacement. Tightening a loose fitting. Replacing a $5 connector. But when leaks keep returning, or the tap is old enough that it feels “gritty” when you turn it, the problem is deeper.
Horncastle Plumbing handles outdoor tap repairs across Adelaide, from older sandstone homes in the eastern suburbs to modern builds in Mount Barker and the northern growth areas. We can isolate the issue, repair or replace the tap, pressure-test your irrigation, and give your outdoor plumbing a once-over so you’re not paying for water you never used.
Protect your garden and your wallet
In a climate like ours, every litre matters. A small leak doesn’t just waste water — it leaves less pressure for your irrigation system, meaning the garden doesn’t get the consistency it needs.
If you’ve spotted drips, damp soil where it shouldn’t be, or a hose fitting that always sprays sideways, book an outdoor tap inspection. Horncastle Plumbing can sort the problem quickly so you can get back to using your water where it actually counts.
For hassle-free plumbing solutions and expert tips, stay tuned for our blog coming next month!
