Fixing leaky pipes should be more than just a pesky task you continue to push further and further down your to-do list. Small leaks can add up over time – wasting your money on water bills or damage control.

In fact, fixing small leaks– such as those caused by toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking valves – can save you about 10% on water bills.

If 10% doesn’t mean anything to you, maybe these facts will:

• A leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. This equals the amount of water you could use for 180 showers.
• A leaky shower head that drips at a rate of 10 drips per minute can waste more than 500 gallons per year. This equals the amount of water needed to run your dishwasher 60 times.

How to Find a Leak Before It Becomes a Bigger Problem

The worst part about leaking pipes is that they’re not always visible, causing damage to escalate before you are able to address the problem.

The best way to keep tabs on this is to be aware of how much water you and your family use on a monthly basis. There are two ways you can do this:

1. Keep your monthly water bills on file. If you notice a huge spike in the bill, or a gradual increase over time, you may have a leak.
2. Periodically check your water meter to see how much water is being used.
   • Check the water usage during January or February. The Environmental Protection Agency says that if you find your household using more than 12,000 gallons of water per month during the cooler season you may have a serious leak.
   • Check the water usage before and after a two-hour time frame when no water was used in the house. If the meter changed, then you may have a leak.

Whenever you think you have a leak in your home, step number one is to turn off the water main. Shutting off the main water valve cuts off the water supply to your entire home IMMEDIATELY. Note, you may also have additional shut off valves installed around your home – allowing you to shut off the water in certain areas for repairs, while still being able to use water in other parts of your home.

How to Read a Water Meter

A water meter is a device that measures the volume of water delivered to a residential or commercial property.

Most residential water meters are located near the curb or sidewalk in front of the home. Look down. You should see a metal or plastic lid that says “Water” or “Water Meter.” Be cautious when removing the lid.

Next, determine if the water meter has an analog (dial) or digital display.

To read the analog display…

The large hand on the dial measures water use. When the hand moves from one number to the next, one gallon or one cubic foot of water is passing through the meter. A complete rotation around the dial is equal to 10 gallons or cubic feet.

The number in the center shows the total use. The last number on the right is a static zero that never changes. So, if the number reads 1,400,410 gallons, and the large hand is on the 3, the number you would record for gallons used is 1,400,413.

To read the digital display…

Most digital meters need light for activation, so if the sun is not enough, try shining a flashlight on it. The display alternates between the meter read – in gallons or cubic feet – and the flow rate. The flow rate equals the number of gallons or cubic feet per minute flowing through the meter.

How to Find the Leak Location

If you performed a water meter test, meaning you recorded the amount of water used before and after a two-hour time frame when no one used water in the house, and found that the dial moved, you probably have a continuous leak.

To identify the location of a continuous leak, you can either call in a professional plumber, or perform a DIY isolation inspection.

Isolation Method

The isolation method is just as it sounds – you isolate different sections of the plumbing in your home.

Step 1: Service Line Check

The service line is an underground pipe that carries water from your water meter to your home.

• Turn off your home’s water supply at the main shut-off valve.
• Test to be sure you have no other water supply lines that bypass the house shut-off valve by turning on a faucet or your sprinkler system and ensuring no water comes out.
• Look at the water meter. If water is still flowing through, you have a leak in your service line and it’s time to call in a professional plumber.

Step 2: Isolate Irrigation Systems and Pools

• Turn off the water supply valve to your sprinkler system or pool.
• Run the system to trigger water flow to your sprinklers or pool. No water should be flowing.
• If your water meter is no longer recording water use, you may have a leak in your system. If your water meter is still recording water use, then the leak is elsewhere in your home.

Step 3: Isolate Home Fixtures

• Turn off one water supply valve at a time.
• Run all the appliances and fixtures that are connected to that water supply.
• If your water meter is no longer recording water use, you may have a water leak related to one of those appliances or fixtures. If your water meter is still recording water use, then the leak is elsewhere in your home.

Note: Don’t forget water treatment systems, humidifiers, ice makers, water heaters, etc.

If you’re not comfortable with the isolation method, or cannot identify any leaks this way, you might try a visual inspection.

Visual Method

The visual method requires visiting every plumbing fixture or appliance in and around your home to search for signs of water, mold or mildew smells. Listed below are just a few of the main checks you should cover during a visual inspection.

Check the toilet:

1. Where your toilet meets the floor, you should see a sealed wax ring. If the wax ring looks worn out or cracked, water could be getting through – even just a little at a time.
2. Put a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any of the color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a toilet leak. NOTE: FLUSH IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXPERIMENT TO AVOID STAINS.
   • Inspect the toilet flapper. Flappers control the release of water from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl. Flappers are rubber, so they can build up minerals or start to decay over time, which decreases their effectiveness. Either consult a professional for help replacing the part or bring the old flapper to your local hardware store for comparison to buy a new part that fits your model.
   • Inspect the overflow tube. The overflow tube allows water to flow from the tank to the bowl. Water should be a half inch below the top of the tube. Consult a professional for help replacing the part.

Check the shower:

1. Run the shower. If a leak only occurs while the shower is running – either around the shower or from the ceiling in the room below – then the problem may be a faulty tile or seal around the shower. Consult a professional, or visit your local hardware store for sealant to fill the cracks.
2. If the leak occurs consistently, the then the leak may be coming from a water pipe. Consult a professional for help further exploring the pipes surrounding your shower or tub.

Check faucets and shower heads:

1. If you notice a trip, first try tightening all connections.
2. Then, check their washers. Worn out washers are a common cause of leaks.
3. Finally, search around sinks, tubs and showers for wet spots, mold or musty smells.

Make Leak Inspection a Yearly Habit

Remember you’re doing your wallet and your time a favor by getting ahead of the problem. Most leaks may seem like no big deal until they turn into a huge wet spot on your ceiling, a mold infestation, or a headache of a water bill.

As soon as you notice something strange, consider turning off the main water supply and contacting a professional plumber to discuss the problem further. We can help you identify whether a DIY fix or a visit from us is your best bet for quickly resolving the problem.