Why hidden leaks matter
A leak that you can see usually gets fixed. A leak you cannot see keeps running. The EPA reports that the average household's leaks waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water a year, and that about 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Hidden leaks are the ones that do the most damage because nobody is looking at them.
In Oak Park, most homes were built between roughly 1892 and 1950, so older materials such as galvanized steel, cast iron and early copper are common. Those materials corrode and fail in ways that are not obvious from the outside.
Ten signs to look for
- A water bill that rises without a change in how you use water.
- A water meter that moves when every fixture and appliance is off.
- Stains, discoloration or bubbling paint on walls and ceilings.
- Soft, warped or cupped flooring, especially near walls and bathrooms.
- A musty or earthy smell with no obvious source.
- The sound of running or dripping water when nothing is on.
- Reduced water pressure at one or more fixtures.
- Visible mold or mildew in corners, closets or behind furniture.
- Wet or unusually green patches in the yard in dry weather.
- A warm spot on a floor, which can indicate a hot-water line leak.
How to confirm a leak with your meter
Turn off every faucet, appliance and the ice maker. Note the reading on your water meter, including the small low-flow indicator if there is one. Wait at least two hours without using water and read the meter again. Any change means water is moving somewhere.
To narrow it down, shut off the main valve to the building and check the meter again. If it still moves, the leak is between the meter and the valve or in the service line. If it stops, the leak is inside the building.
Checks you can do yourself
Toilets
Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank without flushing. If color shows in the bowl within about ten minutes, the flapper is leaking.
Under sinks and around appliances
Run a dry paper towel along supply lines, valves and connections. Any dampness is a leak. Also check behind the washing machine, dishwasher and refrigerator.
Water heater and basement
Look for puddles, rust trails and mineral crust at fittings, and check floor drains for unexplained moisture. See our page on water heater leak detection.
When to call a professional
If your meter test says there is a leak but you cannot find it, or you see signs in walls, ceilings or floors, a professional with thermal imaging, moisture meters and acoustic tools can locate it without cutting into surfaces. See water leak detection and in-wall and ceiling pipe leak detection.
If the leak is on the buried water line, the Village of Oak Park says leaks between the parkway shut-off valve and your building are the owner's responsibility. See underground water line leak detection.
