askhrgreen.org » Fixing Leaks

Fixing Leaks

Is your home leaking money?

Leaks average 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year –that’s enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!

Being handy around the house doesn’t have to be difficult.

Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. These types of leaks often are easily correctable, in many cases requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings.

Fixing leaks means less water wasted and more money saved, so follow these simple steps to ensure that your home is water-tight!

A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It’s likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
Check your water meter before and after a 30-minute period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this test to avoid staining the tank.
If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. It's usually best to replace the whole rubber flapper—a relatively easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time.
Check your water line connections and faucets, both indoors and out, for leaks. Tighten the connections if necessary, and replace any worn-out washers.