How to Check Your Home for Hidden Water Leaks (2-Hour Meter Test)

According to the E P A, household leaks can waste more than nine thousand gallons of water a year, and you're paying for every drop. Here's a simple test that finds hidden leaks, using your water meter.

1. Step 1: Find Your Water Meter

Your water meter is usually in the basement, near where the water line comes in, or outside in a covered box near the street. Many meters also have a small triangle or dial that spins when water is flowing.

2. Step 2: Read It, Then Wait 2 Hours

Write down the reading, or snap a photo. Then don't use any water for two hours. No faucets, no flushing, no laundry, and no dishwasher.

3. Step 3: Read It Again

After two hours, read the meter again. If the number changed at all, you probably have a leak somewhere.

4. Check The Toilets

Toilets are a common culprit. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, and wait ten minutes without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. Flush right after, so it doesn't stain.

5. Check Faucets And Pipes

Look under sinks and around pipe fittings for drips or wet spots. A faucet that drips once a second can waste more than three thousand gallons a year.

6. Bonus: Check A Winter Bill

Look at a winter water bill, when you're not watering a lawn. The E P A says if a family of four uses more than twelve thousand gallons a month, there could be a serious leak.