In Illinois, the average household water usage is estimated at 80 gallons per person per day. Since we are in rural Illinois, that average may be slightly less, so for conservative figuring, let’s say you use 50 gallons per person per day. In that case, a single-person household would use around 1,500 gallons of water a month. This number is affected by how many showers, loads of laundry, times you wash your dishes, and many other factors that vary per household habits. It can also be influenced by your homes plumbing fixtures such as faucets, toilets, water heaters, etc… If you have faucets that drip or toilets that run it can add up overtime and cost you money.
The water meters used to measure water usage are very simple machines. They work similarly to the odometer of a car, counting the miles you’ve driven based on the wheel’s rotations. Inside the meter is a disc which moves when water flows through. As a gallon of water flows through the meter the disc spins to make a complete circle. Each time the disc completes a circle 1 gallon of water use is counted on the display of the meter. If no water is running through the meter, the number display stays still. If any water is running through the meter, even the tiniest amount moving that disc very, very slowly, it will move the number display. The faster the water flows the faster the number display will count. We then utilize a separate “reader” that is attached to the meter the helps get the meter reading from the meter to the office for billing. Due to their simplicity, our meters are very accurate. If there is an issue with a meter reading, it is likely that the reader on the meter has an issue that needs addressed, however the meter itself would still show the accurate reading when visually read. Occasionally, there can be an issue with the meter itself, but in many instances that means the meter is not registering all of the usage being used, like a battery that dies down and then quits, and will reflect less usage and not more.
Not all leaks are easy to find, which can make locating water leaks a very difficult and frustrating task. If you think your water usage is high and you may have a leak, below are some suggestions of places to look and things to try to assist in locating a possible leak.
FIRST STEP: KNOW WHERE YOUR WATER METER IS
Water meters are typically located out by the road (usually withing 5-7 feet of the backside of the road ditch) and often along driveways or property lines. Knowing where your meter is located is important in case you would need to shut the meter off for an emergency or would like to verify if your meter is showing continual usage. Once you’ve located the meter you can look inside by following the below steps:
- Remove the lid from the meter pit carefully because often there are wires that connect the reader which sits within the lid to the meter down in the pit.
- Once the lid is off you may be able to see the meter in the pit, however, sometimes pits do fill with groundwater and may need pumped out.
- Once you can see the meter, there will be either an odometer looking counter with a red circular disc that has multiple prongs on it and moves when water flows through the meter or a digital screen showing a digital reading with a digital bar that goes around in a circle when water flows through the meter.
- If the red disc is turning or the digital bar is moving around in a circle, this indicates that water is going through the meter. If all faucets and appliances are shut-off and no one in the house is using water, there should be no water running through the meter and the dial and digital bar should be still.
- If the leak is small such as a faucet that just drips or a stool that seeps slowly, the meter will still detect it, however it may be hard to see the dial or digital bar move. You can always take note of where they are and wait a few minutes and then come back and check it again.
STEP 2: ISOLATE THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK
If your meter shows the dial or digital bar spinning, you could have a leak. Leaks can be inside the home, or can be outside on the service line between the meter and the house. To help determine if the issue is internal or outside, you can locate the shut off valve where your service line comes into the home and turn it off. This means no water will get into the house, but water would still be able to go from the meter through the service line up to the home.
- If the meter shows usage after the shut-off valve at the house is turned off, this indicates that the leak is between the meter and the home.
- If the meter does not show usage after the shut-off valve at the house is turned off, but then registers usage once the shut-valve is turned back on, this indicates the leak is inside the home.
STEP 3: CHECK COMMON LEAK LOCATIONS
Homes have many places that could be potential for a water leak. Below are some common places to check if you show continuous usage or have a higher than normal water bill.
TOILETS
The #1 cause of most household leaks is toilets. Toilet leaks can cause 1-400 gallons per hour of usage depending on the severity of the leak. Sometimes toilets can be heard if they are running, however, there are times when leaking can go unnoticed. Follow these instructions to check for a potential leak in your toilets:
- Remove the tank lid on the back of the toilet, insert a few drops of food coloring that is easy to see like blue or red.
- Let the dye sit for 30-40 minutes WITHOUT FLUSHING. If there is dye in the toilet bowl, this indicates a leak in the toilet.
Sometimes the flapper just needs to be replaced to stop the leak. Make sure to check ALL toilets on the property, even ones that are not used often.
FAUCETS
Ensure all inside and outside faucets are turned off and not dripping. Check under sinks for leaks.
APPLIANCES
Ensure all appliances that are hooked up to a water line are functioning properly and are not leaking. These include dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers.
PLUMBING
Check the basement or crawl space under the house to ensure there are no drips or puddles present.
WATER HEATERS
Check around the water heater for drips or puddles.
WHOLE HOUSE HUMIDIFIERS
Whole house humidifiers are attached to a water line on the furnace. They can cause higher or continuous usage that may appear as a leak.
WATER SOFTENERS OR FILTRATION SYSTEMS
Check these systems to ensure they are functioning properly. These systems can get stuck in a backwash cycle, preventing proper shut-off. Bypassing the system allows for leak assessments.
OUTSIDE HYDRANTS/LIVESTOCK WATERERS
Check to make sure all outdoor spigots and hydrants are shut off including garden hoses and livestock waterers.
SERVICE LINE
Larger leaks can occur on the service line underground that runs from the meter to the home. Inspect the yard for wet spots or greener patches of grass. This could indicate a leak underground. If your service line is located near gravel or sand or runs up a hill, it may be harder to locate wet spots. Refer to Step #2 to verify if the leak is inside the home or outside.
WATER-POWERED SUMP PUMPS
If a sump pump is water-powered and has been running, this could contribute to high water usage.
STEP 4: PREPARE FOR COLD WEATHER
When temperatures fall below freezing this can be problematic for homeowners. Exterior faucets and plumbing can freeze and bust during the winter. Be sure to winterize your water lines and outdoor spigots to avoid potential risks for leaks.
