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To locate a leak, first check all faucets and showerheads to ensure that they are not leaking and be sure to include any outside taps. If no leak is discovered, check under counter tops and sinks to see if there is any moisture and inspect all fittings and valves. Most leaky faucets can be fixed inexpensively by replacing worn washers.

Next, check your toilets for leaks. It is not uncommon to find toilets leaking much more water than the average 22 gallons. Silent toilet leaks can account for up to 300 gallons a day of lost water without anybody noticing the leakage. This size of leak is extremely costly and should be repaired immediately.

Another method of checking for toilet leaks is to place dye tablets or 15 drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Wait fifteen to twenty minutes and check the toilet bowl. If there is a color in the bowl, you have a leak from the tank to the bowl. This is fairly common and usually indicates a worn flapper valve, which is inexpensive to repair. Another common leak in a toilet can be water running into the overflow tube. Remember when in doubt, check with a professional plumber.

Next check your washing machine, dishwasher, hot water tank, refrigerator and any other water using devices for leaks. Look around the floor for moist areas and check all water connecting valves and fittings. It is advised to hire a professional plumber.

At the request of the property owner the City of Union has a leak detector that can be placed on the meter, which employees use to determine if water is passing through the meter. This is a $10 charge. If a customer has shutoff valves they can use them in the event of a leak to isolate the area where the leak is. Not all water leaks surface and some take some time to surface depending on multiple things like soil conditions location of the leak and pipe type.