While marathon showers may be to blame for your high water bill, there could be other, more elusive reasons behind those monthly expenses. Even small leaks have potential to waste massive amounts of water, and plumbing repair is the only way to fix the problem. Chugach Sewer & Drain in Anchorage, AK, is proud to offer home and business owners affordable plumbing and sewer repair services. While their goal is to lower your home expenses, the essential first step is knowing when you need their help.

Here’s how to tell when you’re dealing with a water leak:

• Toilets: A puddle around the base of a toilet is an obvious sign of a leak, but amid the many moving mechanisms in a common toilet tank, some leaks aren’t easy to spot. Sometimes, you can hear the toilet constantly running, which indicates a leak between the tank and bowl. If you don’t hear anything and you’re still suspicious, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If, after 15 minutes, you can see color seeping into the bowl water, it’s time to call for professional plumbing repair.
• Faucets: The constant drip of a leaking faucet is annoying, but it’s also the sound of your hard-earned money going down the drain. Fixing a leak can be as simple as tightening the base of a faucet head. If that doesn’t do the trick, you may need to replace a washer or gasket. When looking for a potential leak, don’t forget to check around the knobs and the plumbing underneath the sink.
• Showerheads: Leaky showerheads aren’t always easy to diagnose. Normally, unused water will drip from the head for a few seconds after you turn off the water, but it should soon stop. If it continues when the shower is completely turned off, a leak is to blame. While a new showerhead will likely solve this problem, a leak from the base of the showerhead—where it connects to the wall—isn’t so simple. If your shower wall is wet when the head hasn’t been used, call your plumber.

Regularly inspecting your plumbing fixtures and pipes for leaks could save you hundreds of dollars. If you suspect something is wrong with your plumbing system, call Chugach Sewer & Drain at (907) 929-5072. You can also learn more about their plumbing repair services on their website.