How to Find and Fix Household Water Leaks to Lower Your Bill
A dripping faucet or a toilet that runs between flushes is easy to ignore because it is quiet and the bill arrives weeks later. But leaks add up. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program estimates that the average household's leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons of water wasted every year, and that 9% of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more per day. Finding them takes about two hours and almost no equipment.
1. What leaks cost
The EPA says the average family spends more than $1,000 per year in water costs, and that fixing easily corrected household leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills. On a $1,000 yearly bill, that is roughly $100 a year, often from a part that costs a few dollars.
The most common leaks, according to the EPA, are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves.
2. Check 1: your winter water use
The EPA suggests looking at your water usage during a colder month such as January or February, when outdoor watering is unlikely. If a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons per month, there could be serious leaks. That threshold works out to about 100 gallons per person per day.
If your bill shows usage in cubic feet or "units," check the bill or your utility's website for the conversion before comparing.
3. Check 2: the meter test
This is the most reliable home test. The EPA's method:
- Make sure no one will use water for two hours: no showers, laundry, dishwasher, ice maker, or irrigation.
- Write down the reading on your water meter.
- Check it again after two hours.
If the meter changed at all, you probably have a leak somewhere.
4. Check 3: the toilet dye test
Toilets are a classic hidden leak because water can seep from the tank into the bowl silently. The EPA's test: put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. Flush right after the test so the dye does not stain the tank.
A leaking flapper is usually the culprit, and replacements are inexpensive and sold for most toilet models.
5. Check 4: faucets, fittings, and outdoors
The EPA recommends examining faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for water on the outside of the pipe. Look under sinks, behind the washing machine, and at the water heater. Outside, check hose connections and any irrigation system. The EPA notes that outdoor water use accounts for more than 30% of household water use on average, and an automatic irrigation system that is not properly maintained can waste up to 25,000 gallons a year.
6. Small habits that also cut the bill
Leaks are one lever. The EPA's WaterSense facts list several others:
- Running the dishwasher only when full can eliminate one load a week and save nearly 320 gallons a year.
- Turning off the tap while brushing teeth can save 8 gallons a day.
- Replacing old toilets with WaterSense labeled models can save the average family 13,000 gallons and $130 a year.
- Replacing showerheads with WaterSense labeled models can save the average family more than 2,700 gallons a year and reduce water and electricity costs by $70.
Fixing leaks comes first because it costs the least and saves water you are getting no use from at all.
7. When to call a professional
If the meter test shows a leak but you cannot find it inside or outside, the leak may be in the service line or under a slab. That is the point to contact your water utility, which can sometimes help identify the source, or a licensed plumber. The EPA also notes that leak detection and flow monitoring devices can alert you to unusual water use.
8. Key takeaways
- The average household's leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year, and fixing easy leaks can save about 10% on a water bill.
- A family of four using more than 12,000 gallons in a winter month may have a serious leak.
- The two-hour meter test is the most reliable way to confirm a leak.
- Food coloring in the toilet tank that reaches the bowl within 10 minutes means the toilet leaks.
- Worn flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking valves are the most common causes and are usually cheap to fix.