A water bill that jumps for no reason, or a meter that keeps moving with everything turned off, usually means a leak somewhere. Pinellas County Utilities says "approximately 50 percent of all households have some kind of plumbing leak," and the EPA says the average household's leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons a year. This guide follows Pinellas County Utilities' Leak Detector Guide and the EPA's WaterSense tips. It tells you whether you have a leak and roughly where. Finding and repairing a leak in a pipe is a job for a licensed plumber.
Stop and call a pro before you start if:
- Water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, or a ceiling is sagging. Our advice: stay out of that area, shut off power at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot, and call a licensed electrical contractor.
- Water is gushing or spraying. Our advice: close your house valve (Step 5) or call Pinellas County Utilities' 24-hour line, (727) 464-4000, and call a licensed plumber. Skip the testing.
- The water is sewage or floodwater. The EPA says to call in a professional experienced in cleaning buildings damaged by contaminated water. See our floodwater cleanup guide.
- Mold covers more than about 10 square feet. The EPA's do-it-yourself limit is about 10 square feet; see our guide to cleaning a small mold patch.
- Floors, framing or a ceiling look damaged by the leak. Our advice: that's structural damage to have looked at, not something to test around.
- The meter box is damaged, or you'd have to dig or pry to reach the meter. Our advice: the meter belongs to the utility. Don't remove or adjust it; call Pinellas County Utilities.
What you'll need
| Item | Why | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Screwdriver | Pinellas County Utilities says to use one to help lift the meter-box lid | Home Depot · Lowe's |
| Work gloves | Our advice: meter boxes collect dirt, ants and spiders | Home Depot · Lowe's |
| Pen and paper (or your phone's camera) | Writing down the meter reading before and after | — |
| Dark food coloring or toilet dye tablets | The toilet dye test (Step 6) | Home Depot · Lowe's |
| Flashlight | Looking under sinks and behind the water heater | Home Depot · Lowe's |
Step by step
Step 1: Turn off all the water in the house
Make sure nothing is using water: faucets, showers, toilets, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker and the irrigation system. Pinellas County Utilities' meter test only works "if there is no water being used at the time of inspection." Our advice: tell everyone in the house not to use water for the next two hours.
Step 2: Find your water meter and open the box
Pinellas County Utilities says the meter is "typically" in the front yard, near the street or sidewalk. It says to use a screwdriver to help remove the meter-box lid, set the lid aside, then flip open the meter's lens cap. You may need to brush dirt off the dial.
Step 3: Check the flow indicator
Pinellas County Utilities says most meters have a flow indicator: "small in size, red or black in color, triangular in shape." If no water is being used and the flow indicator is "moving or spinning," it says, "this is a good indication that there may be a leak somewhere in or around your dwelling." If it's spinning, go to Step 5. If your meter has no flow indicator or it isn't moving, go to Step 4: not every leak is big enough to see this way.
Step 4: Do the two-hour test
Write down the numbers on the gallons register (it reads like a car odometer), left to right. Pinellas County Utilities says: "Do not use any water for a period of two (2) hours." Then read it again. "If the reading is higher, there may be a water leak." The EPA gives the same test: "If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak."
Step 5: Close the house valve to tell inside from outside
Pinellas County Utilities says to close the house valve, "generally located on an outside wall where the waterline enters the dwelling, or near the water heater," and repeat the meter test.
- If the meter keeps moving, it says the leak "may be outside the dwelling in the service line" between the meter and the house, or in something hooked up outside (like irrigation).
- If the meter stops, the leak "may be inside the dwelling."
Our advice: if the valve is stiff or corroded, don't force it; a broken valve is a bigger problem than the leak. Open it again when you're done.
Step 6: Test every toilet with dye
Pinellas County Utilities says toilet leaks can be among the most costly, and that a leaky toilet "can waste over 200 gallons of water per day!" After the tank refills, put a few drops of dark food coloring or a dye tablet in the tank and don't flush. The EPA says if any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak; Pinellas County Utilities says to check after 20 minutes. The EPA says the flapper "should be checked periodically and replaced at least every five years."
Step 7: Look for drips you can see
Check faucets, showerheads, the water heater, and the supply lines under sinks and behind toilets. The EPA says a faucet dripping once a second "can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year." Our advice: also look for damp cabinet floors, stained baseboards and a musty smell; the EPA lists the insides of walls around leaking pipes among the places mold hides.
How long it takes
The meter test takes two hours of no water use (Pinellas County Utilities and the EPA). The toilet dye test takes 10 to 20 minutes per toilet (EPA; Pinellas County Utilities). Repeating the meter test with the house valve closed adds another round.
What to do with what you find
- Leak inside, and it's a toilet or faucet: the EPA says these common leaks are "often easy to fix." Fix it or call a plumber.
- Leak inside, and you can't find it: call a licensed plumber. A hidden leak may be in a wall or under the slab, and finding and repairing pipes is plumbing work (s. 489.105(3)(m), Fla. Stat.).
- Leak outside, in the service line: call a licensed plumber.
- After the repair: Pinellas County Utilities says you may qualify for a leak adjustment on your bill if you repaired a leak; see its Water Leak Resources page.
- If drywall or flooring got wet: the EPA says materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold. See our guide to cutting out wet drywall.
Stop and call a pro if you find:
- A meter that keeps spinning with the house valve closed (a possible service-line leak)
- A meter that moves with everything off and no leak you can see (a possible hidden leak in a wall or under the floor)
- Water on the floor around the water heater
- Wet or stained ceilings, walls or floors near pipes
- Any water near electrical outlets or the panel
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a hidden water leak?
Turn off all water and look at the meter's flow indicator. Pinellas County Utilities says if it's moving with no water in use, there may be a leak. For small leaks, read the meter, use no water for two hours, and read it again.
How do I tell if the leak is inside or outside my house?
Close the house valve and repeat the meter test. Pinellas County Utilities says if the meter keeps moving, the leak may be outside in the service line; if it stops, the leak may be inside.
How long should I wait for the toilet dye test?
The EPA says to check the bowl after 10 minutes; Pinellas County Utilities says 20 minutes. Any color in the bowl means the tank is leaking.
Will Pinellas County Utilities adjust my bill for a leak?
You may qualify. Pinellas County Utilities says customers who repaired a leak can apply for a leak adjustment with a plumber's invoice or a notarized Statement of Repaired Leak form.