Leak Detection and Water Use

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*Graphic from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. Please use your descretion when completing the steps below. If you feel uncomfortable with the steps mentioned seek assistance from a plumbing professional or local handyperson.

If you need further support, or have any questions about checking for leaks, contact us at 336-373-2489 during business hours.

For water and sewer emergencies, call Water Resources 24-hour Dispatch at 336-373-2033.

The most effective way to check for a leak is the GSO Water Wise customer portal. There you will updated methods and data at your fingertips. To sign up, use your account number, located at the top of your bill, and your zip code.

Check for Outdoor Leaks Between the House and Meter

Choose a time to turn off the water supply to the house.
- We recommend starting this process overnight when water use is minimal.
- Turn off all water in the house, including all water-using appliances and fixtures, such as washing machines, dishwashers, faucets, and icemakers.
- Locate and turn off your main water shutoff valve. Common locations include under the house, in a closet or storage area, or near the water heater. Knowing the location and operation of your shutoff valve can also help prevent extensive property damage in an emergency.
Note the time the water was cut off.
Turn the water back on in the morning.
- If you suspect a leak on the customer-owned side of the property and need help with repairs, contact a qualified professional.
- If you cannot locate the leak or wish to schedule a site visit, contact us at 336-373-2489 during business hours. We will review your water use and determine if water was used after it was shut off. If water use is discovered, it is due either to the shutoff valve not holding or an outside leak.

For water and sewer emergencies, call Water Resources 24-hour Dispatch at 336-373-2033.

Toilets

Perform an annual toilet leak test and inspect your toilet if you suspect a leak.

Running toilets are a common source of leaks and are easy to fix, but not always easy to find. Toilet leaks can be silent and intermittent, so check frequently to prevent costly malfunctions.

Locate a leak by performing a simple dye test:

Add dye by placing 10 drops of food coloring (red or green food coloring works best) or two dye tablets inside the tank.
Replace the lid and do not flush for at least an hour.
After one hour (or the next morning), check the toilet bowl.

Clear water --> No Leak
Colored Water --> You have a leak, most often caused by a worn or dirty flapper or faulty fill valve.

Once finished, flush the toilet to remove any leftover dye from the tank.

*Never use toilet tank cleaners. They degrade internal parts quickly, creating leaks. Use toilet bowl cleaners instead.

Check the Water Level in the Toilet Tank:

Remove the toilet tank lid. The water should stop about one inch below the top of the overflow tube.

If the water level is too high, adjust the water-level screw on the fill valve or replace the flush valve if needed.

If the water level is correct, check the flapper by turning off the toilet’s water supply (usually it has a diamond-shaped handle, near the wall at the base of the toilet). Mark the water level inside the tank and wait 15 minutes.

If the water level has dropped below your mark, replace the flapper or plunger ball.
If the water level has stayed the same, the issue is likely an overflow near the top of the tank involving the float or fill valve (or both). There are a variety of online resources for simple do-it-yourself repairs. For more complex leaks, contact your local handyperson or plumber for professional advice.

Faucets, Showers, and Appliances

Inspect Faucets, Hoses, Pipes, and Connectors:

Regularly inspect faucets, showers, hoses, and connectors throughout your home, including flexible rubber hoses in the laundry room, kitchen, and bathrooms for leaks, cracks, drips, or signs of wear or deterioration.

Cracking, warping, discoloration, dripping, and mold are signs of water damage that should be investigated. It’s usually apparent if a pipe is actively leaking, even if it is inside a wall, because water in supply pipes is under 50 pounds per square inch of pressure. However, water can travel along a joist or other interior framing member and stain a wall or ceiling some distance from the leak itself. If the source of a leak is unclear, grab a flashlight and check the pipes in the basement or crawlspace. If you listen carefully, sometimes you can hear water running which can indicate a leak. Check for hidden leaks by looking for signs of water damage on floors, ceilings, and at the back of cabinets and crawl spaces.

If you suspect a hidden plumbing leak, act quickly to minimize property damage by shutting off the valve that controls water flow to the affected pipe.

If you are confident in making repairs on your own, follow these steps to address possible malfunctions. Apply a pipe repair clamp according to the package instructions. This usually involves centering a rubber sleeve over the leak in the pipe and then bolting the two-part clamp in place over the sleeve. In a pinch, you can make your own pipe repair clamp by wrapping the burst section of pipe with a strip of rubber (from an inner tube, for example) and then clamping the wrap with an adjustable hose clamp, a pipe-sleeve clamp, or a C-clamp. This is a temporary repair.

Call a plumber or replace the damaged section of pipe.

Leaks commonly occur at:

Flexible hoses: Flexible rubber hoses connect your sink, toilet, washing machine, and dishwasher to water pipes. These hoses deteriorate over time. Look for black flakes and cracked rubber, and replace suspect hoses before they burst and damage your property. Rubber hoses and durable alternatives such as stainless-steel braided line and copper flex tubing are typically available at your local hardware store.
Connection points to pipes: Leaks often develop where hoses or fixtures connect to water pipes. Check for moisture, corrosion, or mineral buildup around joints, elbows, and threaded fittings. Even small leaks at these points can worsen over time and lead to water damage or increased utility bills. Tighten fittings gently if needed, but replace washers or connectors if leaks persist.
Worn faucet washers: Faucet washers prevent water from leaking around the spout or handle. Over time, washers can harden, crack, or wear down, leading to drips or constant water flow. Inspect washers inside your faucets regularly and replace them when signs of wear appear. Most washer replacements are inexpensive and straightforward, often requiring only basic tools. Fixing a leaky kitchen faucet can also prevent water damage to countertops and cabinets, which can lead to costly repairs and mold growth.

Modern faucets are usually simple to fix with minimal tools. Online resources can help you repair faucet and tub spouts, dripping faucets, showerheads, and garden spigots. Otherwise, contact your local handyperson or plumber.

Water Heaters and Water Softeners:

Check your water heater and water softener (If applicable) for signs of leaks. If you notice a recurring damp spot near the water heater:

Check nearby plumbing such as overhead pipes, furnace drain lines, and water softener discharge lines.
Inspect the water heater's connections and the temperature and pressure-relief valve for visible leaks. These are likely fixable.
If you determine a leak is coming directly from the tank wall, it is likely caused by corrosion, which means it’s time to retire the tank. Water heaters last for about 15 years with proper care.

Irrigation Systems

Check Your Irrigation System

Irrigation is typically the household’s biggest water user. Regularly inspect your irrigation system’s tubing, piping, valves, hose connections, and nozzles to ensure efficient operation and prevent water waste.

Run a Test: Operate each irrigation section for about two minutes. Watch for geysers, pooling, or uneven coverage that may indicate a problem.

Visual Inspection: Walk around your garden or lawn and look for puddles, soggy areas, or signs of water pooling where they shouldn't be. Check under your house for signs of leakage.

Check Connections: Inspect hose connections, sprinkler heads, and drip irrigation lines for visible leaks or dripping.

Find It, Flag It, Fix It, by completing this checklist from the Environmental Protection Agency for your landscape.

Irrigation professionals certified by a WaterSense labeled program can help you reduce your water consumption, save money, and maintain a healthy and beautiful landscape by maximizing the efficiency of your irrigation system.

Irrigation Pipe Leak Example

Irrigation Controller

Check your controller once a month to see if it is malfunctioning or incorrectly programmed. Don’t allow landscapers or neighbors to play with the settings on their own. If your controller resets due to a power outage, replace the battery.

An irrigation schedule with extra program cycles can waste thousands of gallons of water. Program your controller by following online reference guides to maximize efficiency. If you see your irrigation running unexpectedly, multiple programs may be running. If there are multiple A-B-C programs, remove any programs, start times, and days you do not intend to use.

Check each program carefully. Clear out any extra start times and extra days. Add up the run times. Are you running it more than three hours per week? That can add up to a high-water bill.

Write down your proposed schedule and keep it close to the controller. For suggested run times and general troubleshooting, check your controller's online manual.

Inspect Your Landscape for Obvious Leaks

Not all leaks are obvious. Irrigation leaks can be at the sprinkler head, in the non-mainline piping (lateral pipe), or at the valves. Wet patches on your property or spots that are greener than the rest of the landscape may indicate a leak in a pipe or valve.
Stuck valves occur due to debris, dirt buildup, or a worn diaphragm. When a valve is stuck, the valve and sprinkler heads on that section may seep water continuously. If you see irrigation valve plates wet or sitting in water, check them for leaks.

Clean, repair or replace any:

Broken or clogged spray heads.
Missing spray heads.
Stuck valves due to debris or dirt buildup or worn diaphragm.
Missing or clogged drip emitters.
Disconnected or torn drip tubing.

Run your irrigation system one station at a time, checking for the following:

Broken, clogged, or missing spray heads (“geysers”).
Disconnected or torn drip tubing.
Missing or clogged drip emitters.
Uneven pressure.
- This could indicate a broken sprinkler head or a leak in an underground pipe. You may need to contact an irrigator for assistance.
- Sprinkler heads that seep water after an irrigation cycle ends. Sprinkler heads at the lowest elevation may drain the water that is left in the pipe (“low head drainage”). Replace these with heads equipped with "check valves" to stop the water from leaking out.
- Spray hitting a sidewalk or driveway instead of plants. Adjust the direction of the nozzle.
- Leaking where a garden hose connects to the spigot. Replace the nylon or rubber hose gasket and ensure a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench.

Pools

How to Spot and Prevent Pool Leaks

If you have a pool, regularly check for leaks and inspect the automatic-fill valve. Perform a bucket test every three months to monitor water loss, and learn how to identify common pool leaks. These leaks are often found in the pool lining, pipes or pipe joints, pump, or plumbing. Wet or damp areas around the pool pump or filter may also indicate a leak.

Swimming Pool Leak Test

If your pool has an automatic-fill valve, make sure it is fully turned off.
Place a bucket on a pool step.
Fill the bucket with pool water to about three to four inches from the top, matching the water level in the bucket with the level of the pool.
Mark the water levels on both the inside and outside of the bucket.
Wait 24 hours.
If the pool water has dropped faster than the bucket’s contents, you may have a leak. Contact a pool professional for help.

Pool Auto-Fill Valve

Auto-fill systems use a float to maintain a consistent water level, similar to what you would find in a toilet tank. If the valve malfunctions, or if the water level is higher than the overflow outlet, your leveler may be constantly adding water to the pool.

Here’s what to check:

Make sure that the fill line is always in the on position. It can usually be found near a hose bib or in the equipment area.
Open the lid to the auto-fill valve and make sure the float is working properly. Lightly push it down to see if it adds water, or lift up to see that it stops adding water.
If your water level is too high, try to adjust the float downwards by either bending down the arm with the float on it, or unscrewing the locking ring/wingnut and pushing the float up or down on the main tube.