Find and Fix Your Water Leaks to Save on Your Utility Bill

Posted on Monday, March 29, 2021

CFU reminds you to check your household for water leaks. The average household's leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. 

Some common types of leaks that are often easy to fix are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. Fixing water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.

First, determine whether you're wasting water and then identify the source of the leak. Follow these tips to find leaks:

• Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 16 CCF (hundred cubic feet) per month, there are serious leaks. (The average Cedar Falls residential customer uses 6.2 CCF of water per month.)
• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
• Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food color in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak.
• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

Finding and fixing water leaks in your home not only helps you save money on your utility bill, it helps our community conserve water.

For more information about finding and fixing common household water leaks visit epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.