As a precaution for receiving an extremely high utility bill…Check all toilets and faucets for leaks!

Leaky toilets and faucets are the biggest cause of wasted water resulting in large bills!

Leaks From the Toilet

The most common source of leaks is the toilet. Check toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 minutes the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak. Leaky toilets can usually be repaired inexpensively. Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance!

Faucet Leaks

Faucet leaks can start in various ways and they can appear in more places than just at the spout. If your household water usage is higher than normal look for less obvious faucet leaks that may be wasting water. Check for faucet leaks in the following three locations.

Leaks From the Spout

If you suspect…MORE the faucet may be dripping you can use a paper towel or small container to test it out. Dry the sink up after using the faucet and place a paper towel under the spout and check back later to see if it wet. Also, a cup or bowl would work if you can get it in the right position and let it sit a little longer.

If the faucet leaks at the spout you might need to change the washers on the faucet or replace the faucet cartridge to repair the leak.

Leak Around the Base of the Faucet

To check for a leak at the base of the faucet you will need to start by drying up all of the standing water. Then turn both handles on (or…MORE if it is a single handle faucet turn it in both directions) and see if water leaks around the faucet or at the top of the sink area.

A leak like this will usually be caused by an o-ring that has dried up or a worn out stem or cartridge. To repair the leak you can change out the o-ring or the stem or cartridge.

Leak Under the Sink

To check for a leak under the sink, start by taking everything out from under the sink and thoroughly drying everything off. Now you can run a bit of water to see where it is leaking from. Sometimes a faucet will have to be…MORE turned on all the way before it will leak and check both with hot and cold sides on. The leak can be very small, so if you suspect one but can’t find it, try leaving some dry paper towel all around the base of the vanity for a day or so and then check for water marks on the paper towels.

If the faucet leaks from underneath and you can verify that it is not the flex lines or the drain line leaking it could be a sign that you will need a new faucet. Changing the cartridge or the faucet stem can sometimes remedy the leak from underneath if you want to try to repair it.