Finding Water Leaks in Wake Forest, NC

Why hidden leaks matter

Most leaks are not dramatic. The U.S. EPA's WaterSense program says the average family can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons a year, from household leaks, and that household leaks waste nearly 900 billion gallons nationwide each year. Running toilets, dripping faucets and slow leaks in buried service lines all add up without ever producing a puddle.

In Wake Forest those gallons show up on a Raleigh Water bill. The city bills residential water in tiers by CCF, and it notes that one CCF equals 748 gallons. The EPA's 9,400 gallons a year works out to roughly twelve and a half CCF, spread across the year. A larger leak, concentrated in a single billing period, can push a household into a higher tier; see our high water bill guide.

Use the bill as your first leak detector

The EPA suggests that an easy way to understand your water use is to look at your water bill, not just the amount due but how much water you used. Compare the consumption figure on recent Raleigh Water bills with the same months last year. A jump with no new pool, guests or irrigation is the classic sign of a leak.

Raleigh Water's billing system automatically prorates tiers when a billing cycle runs longer than 33 days, according to its billing FAQ, so a late meter read alone should not push you into a higher tier. If consumption is up month after month, look for a leak before assuming the meter is wrong; Raleigh charges a $75 meter re-read fee if a requested re-read confirms the original reading.

A simple meter test

Turn off every faucet, appliance and irrigation zone in the house, then look at the water meter in its box near the street. If the meter's dials or display keep moving with everything off, water is going somewhere. Write down the reading, wait a few hours without using water, and read it again. The difference, converted to gallons, tells you how fast the leak runs.

That number is exactly what our leak cost calculator needs. Enter the gallons per day and your usual monthly use, and it applies Raleigh Water's published tiers, sewer rate and watershed fee to show what the leak adds to a monthly bill. It does not price the repair; that comes from a plumber who sees the house.

Common sources in a house

Toilets are the usual suspect: a flapper that does not seal lets water run constantly into the bowl. Dripping faucets and showerheads come next, then water heater relief valves and supply lines under sinks. The EPA's Fix a Leak Week campaign encourages homeowners to find and fix leaks inside and outside the home all year, not just during the annual week in March.

Outside, irrigation systems and hose bibs leak more often than people expect, and the EPA says outdoor water use averages more than 30 percent of household use. If the meter test shows a leak but nothing inside is running, the service line between the meter and the house, or the irrigation system, is the next place to look. Irrigation systems on Raleigh Water also need backflow testing; see backflow testing.

When to call a plumber

Call when the meter shows a leak you cannot find, when you see water damage, staining or mold, or when the leak is in a buried line or a slab. Raleigh Water is responsible for breaks in its mains in the street, but leaks on private property are the owner's responsibility, per its FAQ, so a leak between the meter and the house is a private repair.

Ask the plumber how they will locate the leak before they start cutting, and whether the repair will need a permit under North Carolina law; see plumbing permits. If water is actively spreading, start with our emergency steps.