Water Loss Culprits
If your utility bill has suddenly increased significantly or keeps increasing each quarter, you may be experiencing a leak. Sometimes leaks can be very difficult to detect, as they may be silent. Even a seemingly small leak can cost you hundreds, or even thousands, per quarter.
Note: The above leak size examples are approximate, as the image size will change according to your screen.
Toilets
Are the number one cause of indoor water loss. A stuck/open flapper can be caused by a bound up chain connecting the toilet flush handle or the flush handle getting stuck in the down position, resulting in a potential water loss of 200 gallons per hour. A silent leak in your toilet can waste several thousand gallons per day.
If the float is set too high, water will run down the overflow tube in the toilet tank. A tube that is 1/4 inch in diameter wastes 7,200 to 8,640 gallons per day.
To test your toilet for loss, place 5 to 6 drops of food coloring in the tank (do NOT use dye- it could stain) and wait at least 10 minutes (1 to 2 hours is best) without flushing or disturbing the toilet. Then check the toilet bowl. If the dye shows in the bowl, you may have water loss. If you don't want to use food coloring stop by City Hall to pick up a toilet leak test kit- it's free!
A flush valve is a flap or ball plunger that acts as a stopper in the bottom of your toilet tank. After several years and many flushings, the stopper can be knocked out of shape or simply worn out. See your hardware dealer or licensed plumber for a replacement valve or complete replacement kit. It's easy to install and is relatively inexpensive. However, you may want to consider hiring a licensed plumber to properly diagnose and eliminate your toilet leak.
Faucets
A slow drip can result in water loss of 5 to 10 gallons per day per faucet. A fast drip can result in water loss of 20 to 30 gallons per day per faucet. A slow stream can result in water loss of 3,000 gallons per month per faucet.
Irrigation Systems
An unattended water hose for 1 night at a flow of 10 gallons per minute results in water loss of 5,400 gallons. A missing irrigation sprinkler head (1/2 diameter) wastes 14,440 to 17,280 gallons per day and 433,200 to 518,400 gallons per month.
An irrigation system at 60 psi that has a leak 1/32 of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
What To Do
If you know you have a leak or are unsure if you have a leak, you may want to consider contacting a licensed plumber. The gallons of water lost through even a small leak can easily end up costing you more in just one quarter of usage than what it would cost to repair the problem.