Water Conservation does not offer leak detection services. If you believe you have a serious leak, we recommend you contact a plumber. However, some leaks can be repaired by the do-it-yourselfer. To determine if you have a leak, follow this simple guide:

Find your water meter.

The first place to detect a leak is at the water meter outside. It is usually located near the curb with a City of Austin water manhole cover. You can check the meter yourself for any indication of leaks, or you can call Austin Water at 972-1000 to request your meter be checked.

Make sure it's your meter.

There may be two meters inside your water meter box. Yours is usually the one closest to your house (the other is your neighbor's). Not sure which is which? Turn on a faucet at your house. When you see the numbers on the dial moving, you've found your meter. You can also match the meter number on your bill to the number on top of the cap covering the meter dial.

Examine your dial.

Some meters have a small red or black triangle - a leak detector - beside the hand of the dial. If there's even a small amount of water going through the meter, the triangle will turn. If there's no leak detector, you should see a sweep hand that you can watch for movement. Make sure all faucets are turned off inside your home, and no water is being used. Watch the triangle or sweep hand closely for a few minutes. Or, you can mark the position of the dial and check back after 30 minutes without using water.

If it doesn't turn...

There's no leak. But to be certain, watch the dial for several minutes. Sometimes toilets leak slowly, then fill up suddenly. If you have an icemaker, the sweep hand will also turn slowly when it refills. No leak? Call 974-2199 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/watercon for ways to cut your bill.

If it turns...

Yup. You've got a leak. In Austin, about 10% of our treated water is lost due to undetected leaks. To find the source of the leak, check your toilet first, then examine the pipes in and around your hose. Damp spots underneath pipes may help you pinpoint the source of the leak. Outside, look for soggy areas around your foundation and irrigation system.

Is it your toilet?

Toilets with leaky flappers can cost you money, and waste a substantial amount of water. To determine if you have a leaky flapper, drop special dye tablets or a little food coloring into the toilet tank. If the color appears in the toilet bowl, you probably have a leaking flapper.

It's important to replace your toilet flapper with the right model for your toilet. Find the correct style and learn how to replace it at www.toiletflapper.org.