Calling All Leak Detectors: Fix A Leak Week is March 17-23

Are you ready to investigate for leaks? Household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. Help prevent wasted water by hunting down the drips during the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix a Leak Week. 

Faucets and toilets are the most common culprits for household leaks. Fortunately, they can also be the easiest leaks to find and repair. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, easy to install, and available at any hardware store. Food coloring or leak detection dye tablets can assist with identifying leaking toilets. 

FREE leak detection dye tablets and educational materials are now available at all Virginia Beach Public Library branches and the Public Utilities Business Office at 2809 S. Lynnhaven Road, Suite 250, while supplies last. 

Finding Faucet Leaks 

Inspect each faucet for visible leaks. If your faucet is dripping or leaking, the solution is often a simple do-it-yourself project. A common cause of a leaking faucet is a broken or worn washer. The leak could also be caused by a worn or loose o-ring, particularly if water is leaking near the handle of the faucet. 

Tackling Toilet Leaks 

1. If your toilet flushes or fills itself, you have a toilet leak. Most likely, the flapper valve is worn or not sealing properly. Simply replacing the flapper valve should stop the leak. 

2. Listen for hissing or dripping sounds coming from the back of the tank. Try lifting the float. If the sound stops, the fill valve is likely worn and should be replaced. If lifting the float does not stop the sound, you may need to adjust or replace the flapper valve. 

3. Check for leaks using a leak detection dye tablet. Place the tablet in the tank on the back of the toilet. Wait 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. These leaks are often caused by a worn flapper valve. If you don’t have any dye tablets, regular food coloring works just as well. 

4. Finally, make sure the water level in the tank is at least 1 inch below the top of the overflow pipe. If the water level is too high, water will leak out of the overflow pipe. A simple adjustment to the float assembly will usually fix this problem. 

Find Your Private Shut-off Valve 

In the event of a significant leak in your home, you can stop the flow of water using your private shut-off valve. Locations of the private shut-off valve vary, but can often be found: 

• On the wall in your garage. 

• Near your water heater, in a bathroom vanity cabinet, in a closet, or under the kitchen sink. 

• In a closet near the front entrance of your home. 

If you are unable to find your private shut-off valve, please call 757-385-4171 for an emergency turn-off at your water meter or to schedule a turn-off for a repair. 

If you find and repair a leak, you may qualify for a bill adjustment. Eligible residents can request an adjustment online at VirginiaBeach.gov/PUOnlineServices or by phone at 757-385-4631. Please note that the City is not responsible for finding or repairing plumbing leaks found on private property.