Is there a hidden leak?

Two tests Houston Public Works publishes. Neither needs tools.

The meter test

1. 01Turn off all water inside and outside your home.source [12]
2. 02Read your water meter.source [12]
3. 03Wait two hours without using any water.source [12]
4. 04Read it again. If the numbers have changed, you likely have a hidden leak.source [12]

The toilet test

1. 01Put a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank, not the bowl.source [12]
2. 02Wait 10 to 15 minutes without flushing.source [12]
3. 03If colored water shows up in the bowl, the toilet is leaking, often from a worn flapper or valve.source [12]

One more clue

Water running when no taps are on can point to a hidden leak in pipes or appliances.source [12]