Water leaks are more common than you might think. If left unchecked, leaks can run up unnecessary charges on your water bill and cause damage to your home. But you can protect your home and your wallet with a few simple steps. Download the How to Find & Fix Leaks brochure.
| The most common location for home leaks are: | ||
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| Toilets | Faucets | Showerheads |
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| Potential loss:200 gallons of water per day If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting as much as 200 gallons of water or more per day. The most common cause of a toilet leak is the flapper valve. Over time, the valve becomes worn out and it does not seal shut anymore. One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. After complete this test, make sure to flush immediately to avoid staining the tank. |
Potential loss:3,000 gallons of water per year A leaky faucet that drips at a rate of 1 drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. Most faucet leaks can be fixed by checking the washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary. Another tip is to replace the aerator. These are inexpensive, available at most hardware stores, and easy to install. |
Potential loss:500 gallons of water per year A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons of water per year. Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by ensuring a tight connection using Teflon tape and a wrench. You may also consider replacing an old showerhead. An older showerhead uses 3 to 8 gallons of water while a newer model can use as little as 1.5 gallons per minute. |
| To check for leaks, take the following steps | ||
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| Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
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Turn off anything that uses water in your home.
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Find your water meter. This is typically located in your basement, or in a small pit at the front of your property
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On the meter register, locate the blue star, white triangle, or red circle-shaped test wheel on the register face. If the test wheel is spinning when you are not using any water, you most likely have a leak.
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Any leak that occurs on the customer's service line, then it is the responsibility of the customer to fix the leak. This includes the water line that runs from the tree lawn to the water meter, any irrigation systems, and all indoor plumbing. Cleveland Water is responsible for making repairs between the water main in the street and the curb stop.
Customers may not realize they are responsible for the water and sewer lines that run into their home until it is too late. Therefore, Cleveland Water is partnering with HomeServe, Inc to offer protection services to customers so they are not faced with costly and unexpected repairs to their water and sewer lines as well as their in-home plumbing. To find out more about this service, click here.
Cleveland Water also offers a discount for residents who experience an undetected, underground leak and they have it repaired. The service allows the customer to receive an adjusted bill, up to 50% off the excess consumption of one billing term, provided they can submit a Plumbing Repair Statement.