Fixing Leaks

Dripping faucets and leaky toilets account for a large portion of home water waste. Leaks waste water24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just a slow drip can add up to 15 or 20 gallons a day, while a pinhole-size faucet leak wastes 100 gallons in 24 hours.For additional information on checking for leaks in your home visit EPA WaterSense.

• Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Even the smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 20 or more gallons a day.1,2,3
• Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl after fifteen minutes, you probably have a leak at the plunger ball, either because the ball needs replacing or the mechanism is out of alignment.1,2,3
• If the toilet is leaking at the overflow, the water level is usually too high, although the overflow pipe sometimes may leak below the waterline. To stop this kind of leak, gently bend the arm until the valve shuts off the water about a 1/2 inch below the top of the overflow pipe.2
• Be a leak detective. Your water meter is the best leak detector in your home. Turn everything off carefully, so no water is being used anywhere in the house. Then check the position of the meter dial for about 15 minutes. If it hasn’t moved, congratulations, you have a relatively watertight home; But if it has, start checking hose connections, faucets, and toilets.2

References:

1. A Consumer’s Guide to Water Conservation –The Inside Story, AmericanWaterWorksAssociation

2. Household Guide to Water Conservation, AmericanWaterWorksAssociation

3. 25 Things You Can Do to Prevent Water Waste, AmericanWaterWorksAssociation