If you receive a leak notification, here are a few simple things you can check on your own to help narrow down where the water usage might be coming from.
Step 1: Confirm water is running when it shouldn’t be
- Turn off all faucets, indoors and outdoors, and make sure nothing that uses water is running (dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker, etc.).
- Check your water meter. If the dial is still moving — or if your meter has a leak indicator and it’s spinning — water is flowing somewhere it shouldn’t be.
Step 2: Narrow down where it’s coming from
- Look around. Walk through your home and property for common signs of a leak.
- Inside: dripping faucets, puddles near water-using appliances (refrigerators with ice makers, washing machines, water heaters, water softeners), or wet spots on a wall or ceiling.
- Outside: standing water where there shouldn’t be any unusually soft or soggy ground, or a patch of lawn that’s noticeably greener than the rest.
- Listen closely. Some leaks are hidden — inside walls, underground, or draining out of sight. A faint hissing sound near pipes, appliances, or your toilet tank can be a clue. Keep in mind there could be more than one leak, so it’s worth checking a few different spots.
- Follow your nose. Leaks often lead to mold, which tends to show up around tubs, under sinks, or inside walls and flooring — places that are hard to see but easy to smell.
Let EyeOnWater help narrow it down
EyeOnWater shows the latest flow rate (how much water is being used per hour) for any active potential leak. This information may help point you toward a likely cause, as shown in the examples below:
0.1–5 gallons/hour (0.4–19 liters/hour)
A dripping indoor or outdoor faucet
5–20 gallons/hour (19–75 liters/hour)
A leaky toilet, a leaking connection between a pipe and an appliance, or a running faucet
20+ gallons/hour (75+ liters/hour)
An irrigation system issue or aging pipes
These examples are meant only as a starting point to help you narrow things down — not a diagnosis. If you can’t find or resolve the source yourself, a licensed plumber can help pinpoint and fix the issue.
For more on fixing leaks, see WaterSense from the Environmental Protection Agency.
