Fix a Leak Week 2013 Reminds Homeowners to Check for Leaks Inside and Out

More than 1 trillion gallons of water are lost annually nationwide due to easy-to-fix leaks both inside and outside American homes. EPA has declared March 18 through 24, 2013, the fifth annual Fix a Leak Week—a time to find and fix leaks to stop wasting water.  Fixing household leaks not only saves water, but it can also reduce water bills by an average of 10 percent. WaterSense partners are joining the effort by reminding Americans to check, twist, and replace fixtures in their bathrooms, kitchens, and even outdoors to ensure they aren’t wasting this precious resource.

Check to determine if you’re wasting water. Start by examining your winter water bills. If a family of four is using more than 12,000 gallons per month, you may have a leak. You can also check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak. In the kitchen, check the pipe fittings underneath your sink for any water on the outside of the pipe. Track down silent toilet
leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the tank at the back of your toilet. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak, which might be easily fixed by replacing the rubber flapper in the tank. Don’t forget to flush after conducting this test!

Another easy-to-check bathroom leak is the showerhead; turn on the water and check for drips where the showerhead meets the pipe stem. Outside, turn on your hose and check for dripping water where it connects to the spigot. While you’re at it, make a mental note to  check your in-ground sprinkler  system this spring to make sure it’s not damaged from any winter frost or freezing.

Once you’ve identified the source of a leak, you can stop the drops yourself by tightening connections or applying pipe tape to ensure they are tightly sealed. If your showerhead drips when it is not in use, you might have a more complicated valve leak, which a licensed plumber like Ben Franklin Plumbing of Northern Illinois, can help you fix. For additional savings, twist a WaterSense labeled aerator onto each bathroom faucet to save water without noticing a difference in flow. Faucet aerators cost a few dollars or less and can save a household more than 500 gallons each year—equivalent to the amount water used to shower 180 times!