Spot a leak before it costs you
Did you know a leaky hose or sprinkler system could lead to higher-than-usual water and wastewater bills?
Here’s everything you need to know about detecting a water leak, outside and inside your home:
Use your water meter to help locate the leak
If you think you might have a water leak, your water meter can help you determine whether it’s indoors or outdoors with a few short steps:
Switch off the outdoor water valve, record the number on your water meter and avoid using appliances or toilets overnight. Remember, the water meter is typically located in the basement.
In the morning, check the number on your water meter. If the number has changed, water has passed through the meter even though no water was being used, which may indicate a leak inside your home.
Once you’ve determined the leak isn’t inside your home, you can determine whether the leak may be coming from your sprinkler system by repeating these steps with the outdoor water valve open. If the number has changed while the outdoor water valve was open and the sprinklers were not in use, your sprinkler system may have a water leak.
Test your toilets
The most common cause of high water and wastewater bills is toilet leaks. Here’s how to test if you have a leaky toilet:
Remove the tank lid from the back of the toilet.
Put one dye tablet or five drops of food colouring in the toilet tank at the back. If you don’t have these materials, you can also use Worcestershire sauce or another dark liquid.
Close the toilet lid and wait 30 minutes – do not use or flush the toilet during this time. Then look at the water in the toilet bowl. If you see coloured water in the toilet bowl, you may have a leak. If the bowl is clear and all the coloured water remains in the tank, that means the toilet likely doesn’t have a leak.
Repeat these steps with every toilet in your home.
If you think you have a water leak, call a licensed plumber to investigate and repair it as soon as possible.
Want a demonstration on how to test your toilet for leaks? Watch this video.
For more information about checking for leaks, visit the City of Vaughan’s leak prevention webpage or read our water leak detection guide (PDF) and water wise brochure (PDF).
To learn more about water services in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/water.
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