Household Leak Detection & Prevention

Posted on: January 21, 2025

Homes can lose 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water annually due to leaks. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the repair costs and the cost of the wasted water. Unnoticed leaks can waste thousands of gallons and increase your bills.

The type of water meter varies from home to home, so there could be one of several flow detectors on the meter. There can be a black diamond or a red circle on older analog meters, and the digital meters will have flashing “+” signs or “FLOW” indicators that light up on the digital screens. Check your water meter when no water is being used. If the leak indicator moves or if readings change after a few hours, you likely have a leak.

Common household leaks and how to find them:

Faucets: Dripping faucets can waste over 1,000 gallons per year. Common types include compression, ball, cartridge, and ceramic disc faucets. Click here for repair tips.
Toilets: Silent leaks are common and may go unnoticed. Listen for hissing or gurgling sounds. Making sure the flapper seals and the handle resets after flush, because if stuck it can allow the water to run constantly. Studies show 20% to 35% of toilets leak. Watch this video for detection tips.
Humidifiers: Humidifiers connected to your furnace can leak if the refill valve fails. Regularly check and turn off the water supply during non-use seasons to prevent leaks.
Irrigation and Hose Bibs: Check your irrigation system and hose bibs for broken components, clogged nozzles, or malfunctioning sprinklers. Inspect your system annually before use to ensure no leaks, and make sure your system is winterized properly at the end of the year to avoid freezing and breaking lines.
Water-assisted backup sump pumps: Some homeowners install City water-assisted backup sump pumps so their basement will not flood if the home loses power. These can be a great backup system to have, but if not checked regularly, they can get stuck open or continually run which can drive very high water usage.

Want to see how much water you could be wasting? Use this online drip calculator tool to find out and discover ways to save.

Jason Deman, Manager of Public Utilities