If your quarterly water bill seems higher than usual, one of the possible causes might be
an undetected leak. Typical sources of undetected leaks include faucets, toilets (bad
flappers), hoses and irrigations systems, and worn valves in the interior plumbing system.
Before calling and paying for a plumber, you can do your own checks for leaks as follows:

CONDUCT A HOUSEHOLD LEAK CHECK

1. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances inside and outside of the home and make sure no one uses any water while the test is underway.
2. Locate your water meter in the basement and take note (or photo) of the reading.
3. If you see movement immediately on the dial, that is an indicator of a potentially significant leak that should be identified and addressed promptly.
4. If dial is not moving right away, wait 20-30 minutes (or leave overnight and check first thing in the morning). If the meter shows usage, you may have water loss occurring in your system. Keep in mind leaks can be intermittent, so this check should be done more than once to rule out a leak.

IDENTIFY ANY TOILET LEAKS

1. Take the lid off of the tank behind the bowl, flush the toilet, then wait for it to fully refill.
2. Put a few drops of dye or a dye tablet in the tank.
3. Wait at least 20 minutes (longer if you suspect a small leak).
4. Check the toilet bowl – if there is any color in the bowl, there is a leak to address.

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