What can you do to be absolutely sure that you don't have a water leak somewhere in your home?

It's simple. First, turn off all appliances that use water -- you know -- like the washing machine, dishwasher and automatic icemaker. Next, make sure that no one uses any water for at least one hour -- no toilets, sinks or faucets -- inside or outside. Next, record the reading on your water meter.

At the end of the hour, recheck the meter reading. If the needle hasn't moved, no leaks exist. If the meter has moved, a leak exists and each fixture in your home should be checked. If you don't find the leak, it might be wise to enlist the services of a plumber. Hidden leaks can cause substantial amounts of damage. And that's the On The House tip for today.