Household water leak detection starts with your meter. Shut off every fixture, read the meter, wait an hour and read it again. If the number moved, water is leaking somewhere, and the next steps below narrow it down.
A leak can waste thousands of gallons a month without a visible drip. A quick test costs nothing, so do it before you call a plumber. If it shows a leak you cannot trace, our leak detection service takes over.
The meter test
- Turn off every tap, the dishwasher, the washer, the ice maker and any sprinkler system.
- Find the meter, usually near the front wall, in a basement or in a curb box, and lift the lid.
- Read the dial and look for the small triangle or flow indicator, which spins with even tiny flow.
- Write the reading, wait 30 to 60 minutes with no water use, and read again.
- Any change means a leak. If the indicator spins, close your main shutoff and check again. If it stops, the leak is inside the house.
If the meter keeps moving with your main shutoff closed, the leak sits between the meter and that valve. That is the case where a buried line is the suspect.
Meters report in gallons or cubic feet, and the unit is printed on the dial. Compare the same units before and after. For a longer test, shut off water before bed and read the meter first thing in the morning without using any water in between. A change overnight is a strong sign.
The toilet dye test
Toilets are the most common silent leak. Add 10 drops of food coloring to the tank and do not flush for 15 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, the flapper or fill valve is leaking.
Replacement parts for most toilets are inexpensive, and the swap takes a few minutes with basic tools.
Signs, causes and the first check
| Symptom | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Water bill jumps with no change in habits. | A running toilet or buried supply leak. | Run the meter test. |
| Musty smell or stained ceiling. | A slow leak in a nearby supply or drain pipe. | Look at the pipes above the stain. |
| Warm patch on the floor. | A hot water line leak. | Check the water heater and its piping. |
| Low water pressure. | A leak, a partly closed valve or a clogged fixture. | Compare pressure at several taps. |
| Sound of running water at night. | A pressurised line leaking. | Listen near the meter and the heater. |
Use the table as a starting point, not a verdict. A stain can travel along a joist or pipe before it shows, so the wet spot is often some distance from the actual leak. Cut nothing open until the source is confirmed.
After you confirm a leak
- Close the nearest shutoff, or the main valve if you cannot tell where the water comes from.
- Dry the area with towels and a fan, and move belongings out of the way.
- Photograph the damage and the meter reading for your records.
- Call a plumber with the meter result and the symptom list, which speeds the diagnosis.
Other places leaks hide
Not every leak is inside a wall. Several spots fail often and are easy to inspect in a few minutes.
- Washing machine hoses, which can bulge or weep at the connection.
- The water heater's relief valve and the pan beneath it.
- Outdoor hose bibs and the pipe behind them.
- Dishwasher and ice maker supply lines under the counter.
- Irrigation valves, which can stick open below ground.
You can handle it yourself
- A toilet flapper that leaks
- A dripping faucet
- A loose supply connection
- A worn washing machine hose
Call a plumber for
- A meter that moves with the main shutoff closed
- A wet spot with no visible pipe
- Warm patches on a floor
- Any leak inside a wall or ceiling
When the leak turns into a burst
A pinhole can fail without warning, especially after a hard freeze, since Willingboro's January average is near 33 degrees Fahrenheit. If water is pouring, close the main valve, open a low tap to drain the line and call us. Our burst pipe repair page covers what happens next.
Willingboro, NJ: your utility and your meter
The Willingboro Municipal Utilities Authority offers a Smart Water Meter Portal at wmua.info. Ask WMUA whether your account can show usage by day, because a flat nighttime line is a good sign and a constant trickle is a clue. For water emergencies, WMUA lists 609-877-3875.
WMUA also lists a Lead Service Line Inventory that asks residents to help identify service line materials. If you open the main to inspect it, note what you see and share it. Do not guess at pipe material, because looks can mislead. The inventory is a utility project, and a plumber is helpful if you want a second look at your service line.
Neighboring Delran has a different rule worth knowing. Its Sewer Department bases sewer bills on water use in January, February and March, so an undetected leak in those months can raise a Delran sewer bill for the year. Check whether your town does something similar.
Meter still moving?
Call and tell us the reading. We will plan the right test.
What drives leak detection cost
Insurers differ. Many policies pay for sudden pipe damage and not for a slow leak that went unnoticed, so save bills and photographs to show when the problem began.
Questions from Willingboro homeowners
How much water can a small leak waste?
A steady drip can waste hundreds of gallons a month, and a running toilet can waste far more. The meter shows the real figure, so compare readings over a few hours with every fixture off.
Is a leak detector device worth buying?
A basic water alarm under the sink or heater is inexpensive and catches wet floors early. It will not find a buried line.
What if the meter test shows a leak but I see nothing?
Check toilets, outdoor taps and the water heater relief valve first. If those are dry, call us for a locate.
Does a leak always show on the meter?
Almost always for a supply line, since water must pass through it. Drain leaks do not show on the meter.
Who pays for a leak between the meter and the house?
That depends on where the utility's side ends, so ask WMUA before you hire anyone. Do not assume a rule, because it varies by utility and by situation.
We help homeowners in Delran and Edgewater Park run the same tests. Ask your own town's utility about its billing rules.
Take photographs of the meter reading before and after the test, since they help if you dispute a bill.