Tracking down stubborn leaks to save water and money
Hidden leaks around the house or in exterior infrastructure can sap your water supply and jack up your bills. If you suspect a leak, follow these steps to figure out where all that water is going and how to stop it.
Look at the Meter
Your water meter should have a leak detector that moves to indicate unwanted water usage. You can check this or read the meter, wait about an hour without using any water, then read it again. A change could indicate the presence of a leak.
Should you find a problem, shut off the water to your home from the main valve and go have another look at the leak indicator. An exterior leak will cause it to continue to move while no movement suggests a leak inside the house.
Check the Usual Suspects
Faucets and toilets are the most obvious sources of indoor water leaks. Check faucets for drips or water seeping out around the seams of fixtures. Toilet leaks can be assessed by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank when the toilet isn’t running and waiting to see if the color shows up in the bowl.
Test the Supply Line
Leaks may develop in the water supply line between the water main and your meter or between the meter and the house. The presence of water in the meter box or consistently wet soil where the line emerges from the ground are good indicators that a leak is present. Contact your utility company if you suspect a supply line leak. Depending on the location, it may be their responsibility to fix it.
Look Around the Yard
Even if the supply line is fine, there could be other problems underground. If you spot sinkholes, potholes, heaving or cracking pavement or random wet spots around the yard, it’s likely that there’s something wrong. Seeing rust or dirt when you run water indoors or experiencing sudden loss of water pressure are also common signs of a leak.
Finding a leak is only half the battle. Once you know where the water is going, contact us at ABC Home & Commercial Services. We’ll send out one of our plumbing specialists to evaluate the leak and get it fixed right away so you can stop paying for water you aren’t using.