Your first clue is often hiding in plain sight: your water bill. If it suddenly jumps up but you haven’t been taking fifty-minute showers, something is up. Think of it as your house’s monthly report card, and water waste is a bad grade. A sudden spike means water is escaping somewhere it shouldn’t.
The Silent Meter Test
Here’s a cool trick you can do right now. Turn off every faucet, the dishwasher, and the washing machine. Then, go find your water meter (usually a black or silver box near the street) and watch the little triangle or dial. If it’s still spinning even slightly, congratulations—you’ve got a leak! It’s like your plumbing is secretly exercising while you sleep.
