Leaks can waste anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water every year.
A significant increase in your water bill could be a good sign of a hidden leak. Checking for leaks will save a lot of water, and it may save you money. Capital Region Water offers the following tips from the EPA to help you identify and fix leaks around your home.
How to Check Your Property for Leaks
- Review 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. Learn how to read your meter.
- 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
More tips for finding leaks and saving water are available on the EPA’s WaterSense website.