District Headquarters

50 Elm St., Dedham, MA 02026

During Office Hours:

781-329-7090

After Hours Emergency:

781-326-1250

Detecting Water Leaks at Your Premise

You've received a more expensive water bill than usual
or a message about the water meter detecting a leak... now what?

Higher than normal water bills are either caused by a leak or a change in water usage.
Use the information below as a checklist to help locate leaks in and around your property. 

A printable checklist is available by clicking this link.

Toilets

White toilet bowl in a bathroom

How to Replace a Toilet Flapper Valve

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Water rippling in the toilet bowl.
  • Water emptying and filling the bowl constantly when not being flushed. 
  • Water puddling around the base of the toilet.
  • If you hear water running in any pipe when no fixtures are being used, most likely, this is a toilet leak. 
  • Ensure the connection from the toilet to the water is tight.


Oftentimes, toilet leaks go unnoticed because they are SILENT and do not provide the above warning signs!

The District recommends conducting a dye test to confirm if your toilet is silently leaking.  

 

Conduct a Dye Test to Detect
Toilet Leaks

  • Put a few drops of food coloring or one specialized leak detection tablet in the toilet tank.
  • Wait 15 minutes without flushing the toilet.
  • There is a leak if the dye is visible in the toilet bowl.

Usually, the culprit of a leaking toilet is the flapper valve, which periodically needs replacement, or the overflow pipe.

Free leak detection tablets are available at the District, 50 Elm Street, Dedham. Or tablets can be ordered from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Shower Head and Bathtub Faucet

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Any amount of water dripping or puddling from the fixtures once the shower is turned off.
Close-up of chrome shower, faucet, in the bathroom covered decorative ceramic tiles with white glossy bricks. Water running from shower head.
School's bathroom water faucets with tap water running weakly, selective focus on the closest faucet with shallow depth of field

Sinks

Commonly Located:

  • Kitchen
  • Garage
  • Basement
  • Laundry Room
  • Bathrooms

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Any amount of water dripping from the sink once turned off.
  • Water puddling underneath the cabinet from the pipe that feeds the fixture.

Outdoor Irrigation

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Broken sprinkler heads/nozzles streaming out water.
  • Water running consistently at all hours.
  • Water consistently puddling on the grass.
Automatic lawn sprinkler watering green grass. Sprinkler with automatic system. Garden irrigation system watering lawn. Water saving or water conservation from sprinkler system with adjustable head.
Reel of hose pipe and spraying head on the wall

Outdoor Spigots & Hoses

Commonly Located:

  • Outside your home or business in the front or back yards
  • Garden
  • Pool area

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Hose left on running when not in use.
  • Water spraying where the hose connects to the spigot.
  • Any amount of water dripping from the spigot.
  • Ensuring all outdoor water fixtures are shut off and de-winterized. 

Appliances (Dishwasher, Washing Machine, Automatic Humidifier, etc.)

Commonly Located:

  • Kitchen
  • Laundry Room
  • Automatic Humidifier attached to your heating system
  • Ice and Water Dispenser (often connected to your refrigerator) 

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Any amount of water dripping/puddling from the water connection to the appliance.

  • Water being used to fill a humidifier attached to your heating system.
Major appliance - Front and down view open door washing machine isolated white and wood background
New and shiny copper water pipes

Interior Plumbing Pipes

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Any amount of water dripping from the ceiling, protruding from the wall, or puddling on the ground. 
  • Spraying noise.
  • Loose pipes
  • If you hear water running in any pipe when no fixtures are being used, most likely, this is a toilet leak. 

Pool or Jacuzzi Tub

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Hoses left on accidentally.
  • Automatic pool/jacuzzi filler running constantly. 

Hot Water Heater

What to Look and Listen For:

  • Any amount of water leaking or puddling from the heater (leaks will cause the tank to keep filling).

Water Service Line Leak

What to Look For:

  • Decreased water pressure.
  • Discolored water.
  • Water bubbling up in your yard or showing on outside surfaces.
  • Meter pit box full of water or overflowing.