Checking for leaks indoors

Toilet leaks

How much water a leaky toilet wastes

Did you know that a silent leak in a toilet can waste up to 500 gallons of water per day?
To test your toilets for silent leaks, follow these directions:

    1. Put a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the tank of the toilet.

    2. After 15 minutes, without flushing, check the bowl for colored water.

    3. Colored water appearing in the bowl indicates a toilet leak.

You can also detect a toilet leak by listening carefully to see if any of your toilets “run.” A running toilet can waste up to five gallons per minute! Repairing a toilet leak is usually simple and can often be done by replacing the flapper, fill valve or adjusting the float.

Adjusting the water levels inside your tank

Toilet flushing accounts for nearly 30 percent of water use inside the home. With a high-efficiency toilet, you could save more than 8,000 gallons of water per year. If you aren’t ready to make the switch to a high-efficiency toilet, try lowering the water level inside your toilet to save water. Rebates are also available to help offset the cost.

To lower the water level, follow these instructions:

    1. Remove the lid to your toilet to expose the tank.

    2. Flush the toilet.

    3. While the water is emptying from the bowl, use your fingers or a screw driver to turn the head of the screw on the float counterclockwise several times. When the tank fills again it will stop at the adjusted level.

How to replace a flapper

Replacing a flapper is simple and easy to do. Replacement kits are available at hardware stores for under $10. Make sure to bring your old flapper to the store with you so that you buy the correct flapper for your toilet.

    1. To start, turn off the water supply to your toilet and remove the lid.

    2. Flush the toilet to drain the tank.

    3. Remove the old flapper.

    4. Remove the lift chain from the flush lever and remove the flapper.

    5. Remove any build up or residue around the base of the flush valve.

    6. Attach the new flapper by placing each side onto the pegs and then placing it over the flush valve.

    7. Connect the chain of the new flapper to the flush lever and leave a little slack in the chain. Check to make sure the flapper is lifting and sealing back over the valve.

    8. Turn the water supply to the toilet back on and wait for the toilet to fill. Check to make sure the new flapper is sealing properly with a dye tablet test or food coloring.

Sink and faucet leaks

How much a leaky faucet wastes
A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers!

Musty odor underneath sink
A musty odor underneath your sink is a sure sign of a leak.

Feel for dampness and wet areas
If you think you might have a leak, remove everything from underneath your sink and look for dampness, wet areas or discolored patches.

Water filters, icemakers, dishwashers, water heaters and clothes washers
All of these appliances have hoses that connect to water supplies. Those hoses can loosen or bend over time, creating a leak. If you have a leak, you’ll notice pooling water, damp spots, calcium deposits or rust under your appliance. These are usually easy to fix.

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