Is There a Leak?

In the U.S., minor home water leaks waste 1 trillion gallons of water every year.

Any water-using device or pipe connection can leak, and even a small drip from a faucet or shower often adds up to a big problem. At one drip per second, a leaky faucet wastes 3,000 gallons of water a year. A running toilet can waste upwards of 200 gallons of water every hour.

In just 10 minutes, you can search your home for leaks and crack down on water waste. Many common household leaks are not always immediately noticeable, but are quick to find with just a few simple steps. Worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking showerheads are all easily correctable and can save on your utility bill expense and preserve water in your community.

Determine if you have a leak

WHOLE HOUSE

Check your water meter:

It’s important to know where your meter is located.  There will be a valve on each side of the meter that will turn water off to your home in case of an emergency.

Do the following to check for leaks:

• Make sure all of the water is off at the property.
  • No one is washing hands, doing dishes, watering the lawn, etc.
• Locate your water meter.
  • The water meter is located inside the home.
  • It can generally be found in the basement, on the wall facing the street, about knee height.
• Look at the numbers on the meter.(You may have to flip a cap open.)
  • If the numbers are increasing, something is pulling water through the meter, which means there’s a leak somewhere.
  • If the numbers are not increasing, nothing is leaking at that point in time.

Is Your Leak Inside or Outside?

After you determined that you have a leak, the next step is to determine if the leak is inside or outside your home.  Below are a list of the various locations to investigate.

IN THE BATHROOM

Toilets: 

First, listen for hissing or trickling sounds, or a periodic “whoosh” caused by the toilet topping itself off every few minutes. These are all signs that a leak exists.

1. Drop a dye tablet or several drops of ordinary food coloring into the toilet tank. Wait a 10 minutes, do not flush. (While you wait, look at your other water connections in your home using the tips below.)
2. If color shows up in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. If the color does not show up in the bowl, the toilet is not leaking at this time.
3. Be sure to flush the tank when done to remove any dye in the boil and prevent staining. 

If there is a leak detected:

1. Next, turn off the toilet’s water supply (usually it has a diamond shaped handle, near the wall at the base of the toilet) and mark the water level inside the tank. Wait 15 minutes and then check the water level.
2. If it has dropped below your mark, the problem is at the bottom of the toilet tank at the flapper or plunger ball. However – if the water level has stayed the same, then the problem is an overflow near the top of the tank, involving the float ball or the fill valve – or both

Showerheads and Faucets:  

Turn on and off the water at your faucets and showerhead and look for drips or stray sprays.  Tighten aerators , clean openings or replace fixtures as needed.  

In the tub: 

Turn on the tub, then divert the water to the shower and see if there's still a lot of water coming from the tub spout; that could mean the tub spout diverter needs replacing. 

Under the sink: 

Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges. 

IN THE KITCHEN

Faucets or Sprayers:  

Turn on and off the water at your faucets and showerhead and look for drips or stray sprays. Tighten aerators , clean openings or replace fixtures as needed.  

Under the sink: 

Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges. 

Appliances: 

Check for pooling water underneath dishwashers and refrigerators with ice makers, which could indicate a supply line break. 

IN THE LAUNDRY ROOOM OR UTILITY ROOM

Under the sink: 

Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges. 

Clothes washer: 

Check for pooling water underneath the washing machine, which could indicate a supply line break. 

Water Softener: 

Check for pooling water underneath the washing machine, which could indicate a supply line break. 

Have you noticed your water softener regenerating more than normal? 

Follow these steps to check if the softener is leaking:

• Put your water softener on bypass.
• Re-check your water meter to see if the numbers have stopped moving.
  • If they’ve stopped moving, the water softener may need to be repaired.
  • If they haven’t stopped moving, the water softener may be fine.

Water Heater: 

Most people visit their water heaters only if the hot water stops. Check yours. If you notice a puddle of water around the bottom of the tank, it probably indicates a leak caused by corrosion –  a sign of old age. If the tank wall is corroding, more problems are coming, and it’s time to retire the tank and get a new energy-saving model.

Water heaters last about 15 years with proper care. To clear out any sediment, flush a few quarts of water from the drain valve at the bottom of the tank into a bucket about every six months. Also operate the pressure-relief valve at the top of the tank. Don’t worry if a little water leaks out; that means it’s working. Also close and reopen the cold-water inlet valve at the top, so you’re sure it’s easy to operate in an emergency.

Outside the home

Whatever irrigation equipment you have – manual, sprinkler or drip – be aware that not all leaks are obvious. First check for overly green or soggy spots, where broken spray heads or bubblers or underground pipe cracks will tell on themselves. Buried pipes, hoses or drip lines leaking into sandy, porous soil may not show up clearly. Automatic sprinkler and drip systems that generate a hissing sound are likely leaking. 

Remember to check drip systems for damage from foot traffic or gnawing pets or pests. Got leaky hoses? Repair them with waterproof tape. Dribbling spray nozzle connection? Wrap the hose threads with Teflon tape.

At the spigot:  

Ensure tight connections with the hose and see if the hose washer needs replacing. 

In-ground irrigation system:  

Check for broken sprinkler or nozzles spraying in the wrong direction.  You may want to consult an irrigation auditor certified by a WaterSense labeled program to improve your systems efficiency. www.epa.gov/watersense/find-pro. 

If any of your fixtures needs replacing, remember to look for the WaterSense label when purchasing plumbing products.  WaterSense labeled products are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models. 

Please note, the Water Utility is not allowed to make any repairs to plumbing on private property.  Depending on what you find, you may have to hire a private plumber to make repairs. 

Watch for leaks at work

• Leaks don't just happen in our homes. If you see a leak at work– in the restroom, kitchen, or outdoors, report it to your maintenance staff.

Additional resources

For additional resources to help find leaks, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week

Why it matters

Property owners that make a point to check for water leaks regularly will not only save money on their utility bills, but can save money in the long run by preventing the need for more extensive repairs to their plumbing in the future. In addition, preserving a safe, plentiful water supply for future generations is key to our community, that requires all of us to participate. The La Crosse Water Utility can only protect La Crosse's water supply if the public shares that goal, and the first step toward water conservation starts at home. 

Fixing minor leaks and installing water efficient fixtures may seem too small to matter, but it all adds up.