Leak Tips

How do I know if I have a leak?

Leaks are found from a number of different methods:

Water works notifies you that you are using a lot of extra water.
Water bill indicates a substantial increase over a specific period.
An area in the yard that has always been dry is becoming consistently wet or marshy, even during periods with no precipitation.
For slab type homes: water is coming up through the slab.
You can hear water flowing. This is sometimes combined with one of the items above.

How do I determine where the leak is?

First find your water meter. Most installations have the meter in a crock out in the front yard. Remove the top with an adjustable pliers to expose the meter. Other installations will have the water meter inside with a shut off valve close to the curb outside.
Locate the water supply shut-off valve for your building. It can be indoors or outdoors and is usually located where the water main pipe enters the building foundation. For residences, this is often just under a hose bib on the exterior. If you don’t have an interior shut-off, have one installed as it’s critical to have a method to shut water off in case of an emergency!
Turn off all faucets, hose bibs and water using appliances.
Note the reading on the water meter, as well as the indicator. If the leak indicator is moving, then you have a leak. If the leak indicator is not moving, make note of the number on the meter. After 30 or more minutes, check to see if the number has changed. If yes, you do have a leak. Now, close off the main shut-off valve inside the home. If your water meter is outside and the indicator stops, the leak is inside the building.
If the indicator continues to spin, the leak is outside. If the leak is inside, check toilets, faucets as well as hose bibs first. Toilets with leaking valves or flappers and hoses that are left partially on can cause considerable water loss.

Still need help? Give Reliable Leak Detection a call! We’re happy to talk through your situation and see if it’s something you can tackle yourself. If you need our help, we’re here for you!

Leak DIY Tips - How to find water leaks

Performing DIY leak detection at your home on a schedule is a great way to save money. A toilet with a leaky flapper valve, worn water fill valve or bad tank gasket can use a considerable amount of water. Other devices that should be checked are faucets, humidifiers (adjusted for proper flow) hose bibs and other fixtures for leaking pipes, etc. Also, if you have a pressure regulating valve, decrease your water pressure down to 50 psi to use less water.

Are water leaks costing you money? Periodically, you should:

Check all faucets for drips. Replace worn and leaking washers, gaskets, pipes or defective fixtures.
Check for leaks on hose bibs and frost proof hydrants and make sure the valves close properly.
Check toilets for leaks–they are the most common cause of high bills! Check the overflow of the tank to make sure no water is running over (float level may be set too high). The flapper valve in the bottom of the tank may also be a source of a possible leak. To check for a flapper valve leak, put a small amount of food coloring in the toilet tank after it has filled. Do not flush the toilet for at least an hour, or overnight if possible. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl without flushing, you may have a leaking flapper or plunger ball valve. Note: Kool-aid also works as a coloring agent.

Still have questions? Call us for the answers! We can help guide you through the steps.

Water Losses Add Up!

Leaking Toilet @1/2 GPM = 21,600 Gal/mo

Drip Irrigation @1 GPM = 43,200 Gal/mo

Watering Garden for 2 Hours @ 5 GPM = 18,000 Gal/mo

Watering Garden for 2 Hours @ 10 GPM = 36,000 Gal/mo

Unattended Water Hose – 1 Night @10 GPM = 5,400 Gal/mo

Broken Services Line – 1 Night @15 GPM = 8,100 Gal

1 Day @15 GPM = 21,600 Gal

1 Week @15 GPM = 151,200 Gal

1 Month @ 15 GPM = 648,000 Gal

Stuck Check Valve in Washing Machine – 30 Minutes = 240 Gal

Stuck Float Valve in Watering Trough @ 5GPM = 216,000 Gal/mo