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Leaks and Detection

A little leak can waste a lot of water. A slow drip can add up to 20 gallons a day, while a 1/16 inch faucet leak wastes up to 100 gallons in a 24 hour period.

Toilets are notorious for their hidden leaks and can waste hundreds of gallons a day undetected. Leaks occur when the toilet is out of adjustment or when parts are worn, so it’s important to check it periodically.

Most toilet leaks are at the overflow pipe or at the plunger ball. If it’s at the overflow, the water level is usually too high, although the overflow pipe sometimes may leak below the waterline. To prevent or stem leaks, gently bend the arm until the valve shuts off the water about a half inch below the top of the overflow pipe. Sometimes the valve is worn and will run like a leaky faucet and must be replaced. If you’re an experienced “do-it-yourself-er” you can probably do the job. Otherwise call a plumber.

Plunger-ball leaks aren’t as easy to spot. The best way is by dropping a few drops of food coloring into a tankful of clear water. If color shows up in the bowl, you probably have a leak at the plunger ball, either because the ball needs replacing or the mechanism is out of alignment.

Leak Detection Tips

Perhaps the most common cause of water waste is the leaky faucet. Because a dripping faucet deceptively appears to be letting out very small amounts of water, this problem is often neglected. Yet a leaking drip that is 1/32nd of an inch wastes 25 gallons in 24 hours; one that is 1/16″ wastes 100 gallons in 24 hours; and a stream of 1/8″ wastes 400 gallons in a 24-hour period.

Check faucets regularly for leaks at the faucet head and seepage at the base and its connections. When a leaking faucet is found, no matter how small the leak appears to be, it may be time to replace a worn washer, which is something homeowners themselves can fix. The replacement of a simple rubber ring like this can save untold dollars in wasted water.

Periodically, check your plumbing fixtures and exposed pipes. Listen for the sound of running water – many leaks can be detected by sound as well as by sight. Even if you cannot hear or see a leak, close all water outlets (faucets and taps) and check your meter just to be on the safe side.

Pay close attention to your toilet plumbing, where leaks are often hardest to detect. A quick check can be made by placing a few drops of food coloring into the tank after it has filled and quieted, and watching for its appearance in the bowl. If there is a leak, then color should appear within 5-10 minutes. Even if no leak is detected, the test should be repeated, as such leaks are often intermittent. The Department of Water also has dye tablets for detecting toilet leaks available by contacting our Public Relations Specialists at (808) 245-5461.

Automatic sprinkler systems make lawn irrigation easy. However, these time saving devices are also susceptible to leaks! Irrigation system leaks are not always noticeable, so it is important to check the sprinkler timer, connections and heads for signs of a leak. Wet or noticeably greener spots of grass near a water sprinkler could indicate a sprinkler in need of repair. A properly maintained irrigation system will help keep your yard healthy and save water.

If you must leave your home empty for any length of time – on vacation, for instance – it might be a good idea to shut off your water valve so that if a serious leak develops while you’re away, it will not flood the premises or run up a large water bill for you. The shutoff or property valve is usually located inside your property, a few feet from the water meter. If a fixture or a pipe is damaged, your first move should be to shut off the supply using this valve. It’s most important to keep the shutoff valve clear and within easy access, and in good working order at all times.

Fixing a Leaky Faucet

Illustration of a faucet and its components

Most leaks are in faucets, commonly caused by worn washers. You should check all the faucets in the house once or twice a year. If a faucet does leak, you will probably have to replace the washers. Below is a step by step guide to replace the washers in your leaky faucet.

Before You Start

Wrap a couple of layers of masking tape around any shiny parts of your faucet that the wrench might touch and scratch. If you leave metal uncovered, there’s a good chance it will be dinged before you’re through.

If your problem is a leak around the handle when you turn on the water, follow steps 1, 2 and 3. On a faucet with a packing nut, cover it with tape and tighten it gently. Never over tighten this nut. If the leak persists, remove the nut entirely, replace the packing washer underneath, and reassemble the faucet.

To repair a leaky stem that has an O-ring, follow steps 1, 2 and 3. Pinch the O-ring on the stem to get a finger hold, then pull it off. Replace with an exact match that has been lubricated with a little grease. Reassemble the faucet.

Tools You May Need

Illustration of a screwdriver, tape and wrench

A roll of ¾-inch masking tape
3-inch blade screwdriver
3-inch Phillips screwdriver
8-inch adjustable crescent wrench

The screwdrivers should cost about $2.00 each and the wrench about $6.00. It’s a good investment that you’ll use repeatedly on projects around the house.

Step 1

Check whether the faucet is dripping hot or cold water. You may only have to fix one handle unit, not both. Then shut off the water supply valves beneath the sink. If they aren’t there or if they don’t work, turn off the master supply for the whole house. Turn on both faucets to let the water drain out.

Step 2

If there’s a decorative plastic button on top of each handle, just slip the blade of your screwdriver under the edge and twist. It should pop right off. Unscrew the screw underneath and pull or pry off the handle. Sometimes, because of the leak, corrosion makes it stick. Try wiggling it back and forth while prying upwards with the screwdriver blade. But never bang the handle free—the inner workings might break.

Step 3

What you see beneath the handle is called the stem. Fit your wrench to the large six-sided nut and loosen it. It may unscrew clockwise or counterclockwise, so if it doesn’t loosen one way, try the other. Then unscrew with your fingers until the whole stem lifts out of the faucet.

Step 4

On the bottom of the stem there’s a screw holding a rubber washer in place. Unscrew it, put in a new washer of the same size and replace the screw.

Step 5

Rub a little petroleum jelly on the threads of the stem. Then screw the stem back into place, tightening it with your wrench. Put the handle back on and turn on the water supply.