If you suspect you have a leak, and your utility bill is higher than usual without an obvious explanation such as watering a lawn, or filling a pool/hot tub there may be a water leak in your home. Water leaks can cost hundreds of dollars and even cause potential damage to your property. 

Tips to check for leaks:

1. Inspect your home for any signs of moisture.
2. Read your meter before you go to bed at night (or in the morning when the house will be empty for the day). Read it again first thing in the morning before any water is used. If the reading has gone up there is something leaking.
3. Check faucets and showerheads for leaks as well as underneath sinks. 
4. A common cause of leaks is the toilet as you often cannot see or hear the water running. To test your toilet, close the valve behind the toilet and wait several hours to see if the tank empties (without flushing). If the water level goes down in the tank or empties entirely the toilet is leaking. See some of the most common causes of leaky toilets below:
   • The float is set too high causing the tank to overfill and the water runs into the overflow tube
   • The valve for the fill tube gets stuck open causing the water to run continuously
   • Bad seal on the flapper
   
   
5. What would a leak cost me?