Imagine waking up to find money dripping down your sink drain every second. This is essentially what happens when we ignore those annoying drips and water leaks. Fixing them not only saves cash but also helps protect your local water supply.
A dripping faucet, over time, can quietly waste thousands of gallons or enough to fill a swimming pool. Here's why fixing that tiny leak could make a big splash in water conservation.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. It's Fix a Leak Week and the perfect time to hunt down and fix the dripping faucet, running toilet or leaking outdoor spigot.
Toilet Leaks
The most common household leak comes from the toilet, according to the EPA. Some leaking toilets make a noise, while others might be by a slight trickle from the rim of the bowl.
Testing whether a toilet has a leak is a simple process. The Regional Water Providers Consortium has a step-by-step video on how to fix a leaky toilet.
The EPA suggests that fixing a leaky toilet doesn’t have to be stressful. Even if you have little to no experience with toilet parts, the repair can easily be done with a visit to a home improvement store and a few replacement parts.
Faucet Leaks
Did you know that three drops of water from a leaky faucet within a minute wastes 12.9 gallons of water during a month? Over the course of one year, that leak wastes over 156 gallons of water. To calculate the amount of water you’re losing from a leaky faucet, use this drip calculator.
The EPA says that old and worn washers and gaskets are the frequent cause of faucet leaks. Lowe’s offers instructions on fixing leaks from a double-handle faucet and a single-handle faucet and Home Depot offers instructions on fixing a leaky bathtub faucet.
Showerhead Leaks
The drip calculator calculates a showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That's the amount of water it takes to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.
The EPA explains that some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem and using pipe tape to secure it.
Replacing the showerhead with one that is labeled as WaterSense is another option to stop the leak. WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the EPA and is both a label for water-efficient products and a resource for offering water-saving tips.
Here are instructions for replacing an old showerhead with a WaterSense one.
The EPA also suggests it’s a good idea to check and, if needed, replace the washer or "o" ring inside the showerhead while making this repair.
Outdoor Leaks
Leaks outdoors can be from an in-ground irrigation system, an inground pool, if that applies, from a frost or freeze at the water spigot, or a damaged water hose, according to the EPA.
Contacting an irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program can help reduce water consumption, save money and maintain a healthy landscape by maximizing the efficiency of your irrigation system.
Workplace Leaks
Leaks are not just confined to the home; they can also occur where you work. Workplace leaks can happen in the restroom, pantry or outdoors. The EPA suggests reporting it to the maintenance staff and even posting signs in the restrooms to encourage everyone to look for leaks and report them.
WaterSense provides a checklist for spotting water waste in the workplace and looking and listening for workplace leaks.
If you've already determined you have leaks and you find these step-by-step solutions aren't enough to stop them, it might be time to replace those leaking fixtures with those labeled with the WaterSense label. Installing a WaterSense toilet, faucet, or showerhead could increase your home's water efficiency. See a complete list of WaterSense labeled products.
Fixing leaks inside and outside your home saves valuable water and money all year long. Here’s a Fix a Leak Week At Home Activity that will help get you started.