TESTING YOUR HOME FOR LEAKS

Have you recently noticed an increase in consumption, but aren't sure what the cause could be? Here are a few quick ways to check your home for leaks.
METHOD 1 - GENERAL HOME LEAKS
1. First, make sure all water is turned off inside and outside the home. This test must be performed when no water equipment is used, such as irrigation controllers, clothes washers, dishwashers, etc.

2. Next, record the reading of the water meter, and wait 15 minutes. It is important no one uses any water during this time.

3. Next, record the reading of the meter again. If the meter has recorded water use during the test, it might be due to a leak. Verify that the water use is not due to small appliances such as water filters, water softeners, or whole house humidifiers.

The meter test only verifies large leaks. Using this test you cannot verify that small leaks do not exist within the home. Even when leaks are detected, this test does not indicate the location of the leaks. Further investigation is needed to detect and locate all significant leaks.


METHOD 2 - COULD A TOILET LEAK BE THE CULPRIT?

Did you know that your toilet might be leaking without you even realizing it? A small leak can waste thousands of gallons of water each month! Don't let worn-out flappers or improperly set float arms be the culprits. The video below demonstrates one easy method to check your toilet for leaks.


Instruction recap from the video:
1. Remove the lid from the tank in the back of the toilet.
2. Add 10-15 drops of food coloring or other additive that will change the color of the water.
3. Leave the toilet for about 20 minutes, and return to check.
4. If the water in the bowl of the toilet now has water the color of the additive you added to the tank, you likely have a leaking toilet and likely need to change out the "flapper" or "guts" of the toilet.