Leaking oil from your car, fluid from your brakes, air from a tire, or water from a bucket – there are no good leaks!
Did you know?
Curious how drips can add up to gallons wasted? Try out the drip calculator HERE!
We tend to take clean water for granted and expect it to be there every time we turn on the faucet. But with climate change, drought, and population growth, water is a precious resource that we need to protect.
Water leaks in your home may be the biggest waste of this essential resource. Although common, household water leaks don’t have to be wasteful if found and fixed in a timely manner.
The most common culprits are faucets, toilets, showerheads, and irrigation systems. These leaks may go undetected for long periods of time, often until damage occurs or you get a big water bill.
Here are some tips to help stop water leaks in their tracks:
- Check your water bill. Is there a spike in usage but no changes in your water use or number of people in your household? A family of four typically won’t exceed 12,000 gallons of water per month (in the winter without irrigation). If your usage has suddenly increased, it may be a result of a leak.
- Read your water meter. First take a base reading, then avoid using any water for the next two hours. After two hours, read the meter again. If water usage has increased, this may mean you have a leak. If you have a newer water meter, it may have a built-in leak detector.
- Test your toilet. Toilet leaks are some of the hardest to detect. Put food coloring or a dye tablet in the tank of your toilet and let it sit for 10 minutes. If color shows up in the toilet bowl, it’s a leak.
- East Region Customers Only: If you have an AMI meter, download the EyeOnWater app, a free tool that shows your water use by the hour. Set up leak alerts and the app will tell you about a leak before it’s done any damage – to your house or your wallet!
Not all leaks are obvious, so we have tools to help you become a leak detective. Download our checklist at the button below to help track down a variety of leaks that may be hiding in your home.
Knowledge is power and once you know what to do, you have the power to stop the leaks, saving your home from damage and reducing water waste. You may be able to fix some leaks yourself, such as replacing the flapper in your toilet or tightening the bathtub faucet, but other repairs may require the help of a licensed plumber. Either way, while March 18-24, 2024, is observed as Fix-a-Leak Week, leak detection and resolution can be done year-round.
Help protect our precious water resources and reduce potential impacts to your water bill by finding and fixing water leaks.
