Check for Leaks

Household leaks in Texas alone could waste more than 90 billion gallons of water each year. It’s estimated that 1 in 10 homes are wasting 90 gallons a day because of leaks. The good news is that many household leaks are easy and inexpensive to fix. Repairing them could save 10,000 gallons of water each year per household and 10 percent on water bills. So check your plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems regularly.

1. You can discover if your home has leaks by checking your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used. If the meter changes at all, you may have a leak.
2. Another method of checking for leaks is to look at your water bill during the colder months. If a family if four is exceeding 12,000 gallons a month, there may be serious leaks.
3. Check your toilet by putting 10 drops of food coloring in the tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after ten to 15 minutes, you have a leak. Be sure to flush so you do not stain your tank.
4. Toilet leaks can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day and are often due to a worn or faulty flapper. This is easy to repair.
5. Faucet leaks can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year. The culprit is often old and worn washers and gaskets. Check the outside of pipes and fixtures for water.
6. Also, periodically look under your sink for signs of water leaks. Showerheads often leak because of a loose connection between the showerhead and pipe stem. This is easy to repair by tightening the connection or using Teflon pipe tape.
7. If your shower drips when not in use, it may require professional repair.