It's often the case that water leaks aren’t caught until an unusually high water bill arrives. Or, you find some water damage on your property and it's time to investigate the source.
According to the EPA, an average household's water leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted each year, and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day (source). Of course, the sooner you find what's causing the water leak, the better off you'll be, both in terms of saving money and repairs. But if you can't find an obvious source of the leak, will you know what to look for, or where?
According to the EPA, an average household's water leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted each year, and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day (source). Of course, the sooner you find what's causing the water leak, the better off you'll be, both in terms of saving money and repairs. But if you can't find an obvious source of the leak, will you know what to look for, or where?
How To Spot Water Leaks In And Around Your Home
Check Your Bill
It goes without saying that you should review your utility bills each month for discrepancies and unusual activity (this is especially true if you use paperless billing or have automatic payments set up). If you suspect something's off on your water bill, check your meter.
Check Your Water Meter
Start by making sure no water is being used in the house (dishwasher, washing machine, taps, faucets and spigots). Now, watch your meter for a bit. See if the leak indicator is moving. If the dial is moving, chances are you have a leak. Alternatively, you can take a meter reading immediately after turning off all water sources in your home, then again 2 hours later. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.
Check Your Usage
The USGS suggests that you should check your water usage on a regular basis. Estimates vary of course, but according to the USGS, the average amount a person uses inside their home is about 80-100 gallons of water. We thought that was pretty high until we found what the biggest water-waster was: the toilet; followed by showers and baths.
Many states and local municipalities offer water conservation rebates to incentivize consumers into conserving water. Call you water company to find out what kind of incentives they can offer you.
Check Your Toilet
One of the places in the home that leak most often is the toilet. To see if it's the cause of your leak, try this trick:
Remove the lid of the tank and place a few drops of food coloring into the water. Give it about 30 minutes without flushing, and then check the toilet bowl to see if any of the food coloring has come through. If the water is clear, your toilet is not leaking. If you do see food coloring in the bowl, however, you have a leak.
The USGS suggests that you should check your water usage on a regular basis. Estimates vary of course, but according to the USGS, the average amount a person uses inside their home is about 80-100 gallons of water. We thought that was pretty high until we found what the biggest water-waster was: the toilet; followed by showers and baths.
Many states and local municipalities offer water conservation rebates to incentivize consumers into conserving water. Call you water company to find out what kind of incentives they can offer you.
Check Your Toilet
One of the places in the home that leak most often is the toilet. To see if it's the cause of your leak, try this trick:
Remove the lid of the tank and place a few drops of food coloring into the water. Give it about 30 minutes without flushing, and then check the toilet bowl to see if any of the food coloring has come through. If the water is clear, your toilet is not leaking. If you do see food coloring in the bowl, however, you have a leak.
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Check Your Exterior
Leaks don’t just happen inside the house, they can happen from the outside, too. Often times, water leaks can go on for quite awhile, because spigots tend to be somewhat concealed and leaks can go undetected.
To see if your leak is coming from the outside, shut off your home's main valve (usually located in the basement or garage near an outdoor faucet). Conduct the same test with your water meter as noted above. If the main valve to your house is off and there's activity on your meter, your leak is coming from outside.
Check For Soggy Ground
As you can see, water leaks in and around your home can be caused by a variety of issues. Outside water leaks are noted by shifting soil, soggy ground and small puddles. Junctions and fittings from the main service line can crack and leak over time, and older piping material, such as galvanized cast iron supply pipes, can become damaged or worn out. If you find your leak is coming from outside, you can opt to have your pipes changed and install a trenchless waterline replacement instead.
Leaks don’t just happen inside the house, they can happen from the outside, too. Often times, water leaks can go on for quite awhile, because spigots tend to be somewhat concealed and leaks can go undetected.
To see if your leak is coming from the outside, shut off your home's main valve (usually located in the basement or garage near an outdoor faucet). Conduct the same test with your water meter as noted above. If the main valve to your house is off and there's activity on your meter, your leak is coming from outside.
Check For Soggy Ground
As you can see, water leaks in and around your home can be caused by a variety of issues. Outside water leaks are noted by shifting soil, soggy ground and small puddles. Junctions and fittings from the main service line can crack and leak over time, and older piping material, such as galvanized cast iron supply pipes, can become damaged or worn out. If you find your leak is coming from outside, you can opt to have your pipes changed and install a trenchless waterline replacement instead.
If you find a water leak on your property and it's not a simple fix, call a licensed plumber. They will diagnose and confirm your issues and provide you with an estimate for services before performing any work.
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