How to Find a Fix for Leak Resources

Checking for Leaks

Annual household leaks waste 1 trillion gallons nationwide, equal to water use in 11 million plus homes.The average household's leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.

To check for leaks in your home, you first need to determine whether you're wasting water and then identify the source of the leak. Here are some tips for finding leaks:

Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.
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 coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
Use our checklist to keep track of your search for leaks: Detect and Chase Down Leaks at Home Checklist (2 pp, 2 MB, About PDF) | En Español (PDF) (2 pp, yy K, About PDF)

Toilet Leaks

Old or worn-out toilet flappers (e.g., valve seal) can cause leaks. This simple rubber device holds water in the tank, then releases water into the bowl when the toilet is flushed. Because the rubber can wear out, the flapper should be checked periodically and replaced at least every five years to ensure a good seal and avoid leaks. An old or worn flapper can cause your toilet to flush on its own or silently leak thousands of gallons a year. Replacing a flapper is a quick and easy fix that will save water and money. If you need more help, you can also consult your local hardware store, home improvement, retailer, or a licensed plumber. Here are some online resources from WaterSense partners:

WaterSense Bath Hack #3 shows how easy it is to Replace Your Leaky Toilet Flapper.
Two major manufacturers of flappers also have websites that can help you diagnose problems and find the right flapper to fit your needs: Korky's Toilet Troubleshooting Guide and Fluidmaster's Toilet Repair Guide.

Tip: Bring the old flapper (or a picture of it) to the hardware store to make sure you buy a new flapper that fits your toilet model. Pay attention to the width of the flapper and whether it has a foam float on it that may also need to be replaced. You can also check the owner's manual, if you have it, or the manufacturer's website for information on replacement parts.

Faucet Leaks

Old and worn faucet washers and gaskets frequently cause leaks in faucets. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers! Many tutorials are available online for how to fix a wide variety of faucets. Here are a few examples from our partners:

AWWA's Drip Calculator helps you see how drips add up to gallons wasted.
Lowe's How to Fix a Dripping or Leaky Double Handle Faucet.
Lowe's How to Fix a Dripping or Leaky Single Handle Faucet.
The Home Depot How to Fix a Leaky Bathtub Faucet.
WaterSense Bath Hack #2 shows you How to Replace your Faucet Aerator.

Tip: Don't forget to turn off the water line before you start!

Showerhead Leaks

A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That's the amount of water it takes to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher. Some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem and by using pipe tape to secure it. Pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, is available at most hardware stores, is easy to apply, and can help control leaks. For more complicated valve leaks in showers that drip when not in use, contact an experienced handyperson or licensed plumber.

This WaterSense Showerhead Bath Hack #1 video shows how easy it is to add teflon tape and replace your showerhead.

Tip: It's also a good idea to check and, if needed, replace the washer or "o" ring inside the showerhead while making this repair.