Check your home for leaks

Water leaks account for approximately 14% of all water use in the average home.

Check your home for leaks to ensure your home isn’t pouring a valuable resource down the drain.

What to check indoors

  • Toilets
  • Faucets
  • Showers
  • Appliances (including heating and cooling devices)

What to check outdoors

  • Irrigation systems
  • Ponds
  • Fountains and water features

Detailed home leak detection tips and repair information are available through EPA’s WaterSense Program .

3 steps to test your toilet for leaks

Leaky toilets can waste the most water in the home. Most leaks are silent, but signs of a toilet leak may include a hissing sound, continual water running, or flushing on its own.

Does your toilet have the runs? Flush out leaks with the leaky toilet test!

TEST IT
Drop food colouring or leaky toilet test strip in your toilet tank. Wait 15 minutes without flushing.
CHECK IT
Check the water in your toilet bowl. If the water is coloured, you’ve got a toilet leak!
FIX IT
Most leaks are caused by a worn out flapper. They’re inexpensive and as easy to replace as a lightbulb.

Did your toilet have the runs? Let us know!

If you took the leaky toilet test, tell us how it went.

You'll help us track how many toilets were put to the leaky toilet test.

Email your feedback