Water leaks are costly and wasteful.  A standard garden hose accidently left on can waste as much as 28,000 gallons in a 24 hour period.  A continuously running toilet can use as much as 4,000 gallons of water per day.  A slow faucet drip can use as much as 5,000 gallons per month.  The Lebanon Water Works does not check on private property for water leaks.  Here is a list of several things you can check if you suspect that you have a water leak:

1.             Check for a leak with your toilets.  Toilet leaks can range from small to large, constant or random. Many are even silent.  Fortunately, most toilet leaks are relatively easy to fix.  In a properly functioning toilet, no water should move from the tank to the bowl, unless the toilet is being flushed.  A leaking toilet loses water from the tank to the bowl without being flushed.

  Checking for a leaky toilet:

A.             Remove the tank lid, carefully. (Don’t  worry, this water is clean until it enters the bowl.)

B.             Add some food coloring or a dye strip in the tank, to turn the water a different color.  Carefully put the tank lid back on.

C.            After about 30 minutes, look in the bowl.  If you see colored water, you have a leak.  If the water is clear, water is not leaking from the tank to the bowl.

Note:   We have dye strips that you can pick up at our office.

If you do have a toilet leak, there are a number of possible causes.  If you remove the tank lid and can easily identify the cause, correct the problem and try your leak test again.  Consider that “fixes” such as bending the float back to shape, or adjusting how the rubber flapper falls, often end up failing soon afterward.  In most cases, you will simply want to replace the toilet flapper (the rubber thing at the bottom of the tank that keeps water in the tank) and/or the filling mechanism.  These are available at hardware stores and home centers for around $20.

2.             Check around your home for dripping faucets, pipes and leaks around your hot water tank

 Leaking Faucet

A leaking faucet is frequently the result of a bad rubber washer.  The washer on a sink is typically located under the handle.  A washer is relatively easy to replace, if you have the right tools.  It does require shutting off the water under the faucet, and removing the handle.  If you don’t feel comfortable doing the repair yourself, a plumber may be your best option.  Remember, even if you have to pay a plumber to fix the leak, you will end up saving money in the long run.