Have you taken a serious look at your water bill lately? Higher gallons per month could indicate leaks. That means you’re paying for water that’s going right down the drain. To stem the tide, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends checking your home for the most common causes of leaks annually.
Before looking for individual leaks, check your overall water usage by monitoring your water meter over a 2-hour period when no water is being used. Does the meter keep inching up? The good news is that many common leaks are easy and inexpensive to fix.
To check for leaks in your home, you first need to determine whether you're wasting water and then identify the source of the leak. Here are some tips for finding leaks:
- Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
- Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
- Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
Where to Look for Leaks
Toilet leaks. Typically, toilets begin leaking when the toilet flapper or valve seal becomes old or worn out. A good way to check is to put some food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes to see whether color shows up in the toilet bowl. If it does, you’ll need to fix it. You can probably find the replacement part at your hardware store, but to be sure, take the old part with you for comparison.
If the leaky toilet is old, consider replacing the whole fixture. Older toilets can use four times more water per flush. You can get a new water-efficient one for as little as $100, and replacing an older toilet can dramatically reduce your water bill.
Faucet leaks. Old and worn washers and gaskets are frequently the cause of faucet leaks. If you attempt to fix the leak yourself, remember to turn the water off under the sink before you begin.
Showerhead leaks. Some leaky showerheads are easy to fix, while others may need professional attention. Make sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem. You can use pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, to secure it. You may also need to replace the washer. If you suspect a valve leak, it’s time to call the plumber.
Outdoor leaks. Check your garden hose for leaks at the connection to the spigot. If it leaks, try replacing the washer to ensure a tight connection to the spigot. You can also use pipe tape and a wrench. If you have in-ground irrigation, you should check to make sure it wasn’t damaged by frost or freezing over the winter. If it leaks, it may need professional attention.
Suspected leaks. If you see signs of moisture or mold on your walls, ceilings, or floors, or you notice a musty smell, you may have a leak. Pipes could be leaking behind the walls, which requires the help of a professional plumber.
If any of your fixtures need replacing, look for the WaterSense label. Products with the label are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.
Sources include Consumer Reports and the Environmental Protection Agency
