See a leak at your water meter, or on the street side of any SSCC water meter?
Don't wait to call King Water, a NW Natural Water Company.

 

Water bill seems higher than normal? How to detect water leaks near or in your home.

The water line to your home is metered for accountability and billing purposes. A leak on your line or within your home can be very costly. Before calling a plumber, here are a few things you can do to find even a small leak. 

1. Watch the water meter dial. Look for the water shut-off valve that is in or near your house. Turn it off for a few minutes, then walk to the meter, open the lid, and look for movement on the dial. If there is movement in the dial, then the leak may be between the meter and your house. You may also have a leak somewhere inside of your house.

2. Walk the water line from the house to the water meter. Look for unusually wet areas where the grass is greener or grows faster. You may have to dig to discover a leak in your water line. Be very careful when you dig! Before digging, you may want to first turn off the water at the meter.

3. Check each toilet for leaks. Remove the top of the tank and listen closely. If you hear a hissing sound, look for the source. Check for a leak in the flapper at the bottom of the tank by adding a few drops of food coloring in the tank (not in the bowl), then wait several minutes. If you see colored water in the bowl, then you have a leak where the flapper fits the tank. 

4. Check each shower head, faucet and hose bib. Any small but steady drip wastes water and increases your water bill.

5. Check refrigerator ice machines, washing machines, and dryers with a steam feature. Any small but steady drip wastes water and increases your water bill.

6. Check the Pressure Relief Valve on the hot water tank. Sometimes these valves are plumbed directly into a drain and may be leaking without your knowledge. If you can't remove the drainpipe to check for a leak, then listen for a hissing sound that may mean there is a leak.