Are you putting off repairing a leak? While it might seem like a good idea right now, you may end up surprised by just how much water (and money) even a small leak can waste.
If you own a home, make sure you equip yourself with these essential facts about household leaks (including hidden ones).
Fact #1: Even a single, small leak can waste hundreds of gallons yearly.
Can you guess how much water just one household leak can waste? Watersense (a partnership program with the EPA) provides some eye-opening information about this.
A shower that leaks ten drips per minute wastes over 500 gallons in just one year. That’s equivalent to the water you’d need to run your dishwasher 60 times.
A faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water in one year. That’s equivalent to the water you’d need to take 180 showers.
Considering how much wasted water can result from a small leak, it’s no surprise that the average U.S. household wastes almost 10,000 gallons of water yearly in leaks alone (according to the EPA).
Fact #2: The most common leaks are almost always easy to fix.
So what are the most frequent culprits when it comes to household leaks? Based on research from the EPA, the most common leak types are dripping faucets, worn-out toilet flappers, and leaky valves. Our plumbers regularly handle these sorts of plumbing issues. The repair or replacement is usually simple and results in a lower utility bill for the homeowner.
Fact #3: Fixing easily-repairable household leaks saves homeowners approximately 10 percent on their water bills.
How much money you’ll save will depend on how much water the leak was wasting. However, WaterSense studies indicate that homeowners tend to save around 10 percent just from repairing leaks that come from sources like dripping faucets and malfunctioning toilet flappers.
Fact #4: You can do a basic test for a hidden leak by using your home’s water meter.
While it’s easy to notice a dripping faucet, other types of leaks can remain hidden behind walls for a long time and cause extensive water damage.
If you notice that your water bill seems unusually high, conduct this test:
Don’t use any water in your home for two hours, including any faucets or appliances that use water (such as the dishwasher, washing machine, etc.).
Check your home’s water meter to see if there was any activity.
If there was activity during the two-hour period when no one was using water, this indicates that there is a hidden leak somewhere in your home. Time to contact a plumber!
Need a Richmond plumber? Contact us today at (804) 214-2077 for an appointment!