Finding the Phantom Leak
By Service Rank USA Team
A "Phantom Leak" is one you can't see or hear, but you definitely pay for. A toilet running silently can waste 200 gallons a day. A slab leak can ruin your foundation. Here is how to play detective.
1. The Water Meter Test
This is the definitive test for whole-home leaks.
Step 1: Turn off all water inside and outside. No dishwasher, no icemaker,
no sprinklers.
Step 2: Go to your water meter. It likely has a "leak indicator" (a small
red triangle or gear).
Step 3: Watch it for 5 minutes. If it moves at all, knowing everything is
off, you have a leak.
2. The Toilet Dye Test
Toilets are the #1 cause of high water bills.
How to test: Put a few drops of blue food coloring in the tank
(top part) of the toilet. Do not flush. Wait 20 minutes.
Result: If blue water appears in the bowl, water is leaking past the
flapper valve. A $5 flapper replacement will save you hundreds a year.
3. The Wall Listen
If you suspect a pipe leak inside a wall (common with slab leaks), put your ear against the wall in a quiet house. If you hear a hiss or the sound of running water, call a plumber immediately. Mold grows in wet drywall within 24-48 hours.