Do you know what the "Fix
a Leak Week project" is?
It’s an annual event hosted by the EPA to chase down household leaks. This project will take place March 20 through 26, 2017, and it’s the ideal opportunity to hunt down the drips inside and outside your home. Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, so be prepare to chase those leaks at home and save valuable water and money all year long.
It’s an annual event hosted by the EPA to chase down household leaks. This project will take place March 20 through 26, 2017, and it’s the ideal opportunity to hunt down the drips inside and outside your home. Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, so be prepare to chase those leaks at home and save valuable water and money all year long.
The main purpose of
this event is to teach you and your family how to find and fix household leaks.
What you can expect from this event? From WaterSense demonstrations, family fun
runs to leak detection contests and insights about how to be handy around the house when addressing these issues.
There are common types of leaks found in the home, such as worn
toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of
leaks are often easily correctable, requiring only a few tools and hardware
that can pay for themselves in water savings.
First, you need to
determine whether you're wasting water, the next step will be identifying the
source of the leak. Here are some recommendations to follow carefully to
identify if your home is addressing any leaks.
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
- Look at your water usage periodically, such as January or February months. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.
- Add some drops of food coloring in the toilet tank, if any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak.
- Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
- The Regional Water Providers Consortium has a video on detecting household leaks that you may find helpful.
Flappers are inexpensive rubber parts that can build up minerals or decay over time, and that is one of the most common reason toilets will leak. Replacing them can be a quick and easy fix for your water woes. To fix this leak, consult your local hardware store, or licensed plumber.
Bring the old flapper to the hardware store for comparison to make sure you buy a new flapper that fits your toilet model. You can also check the owner's manual, if you have it, or the manufacturer's website for the appropriate replacement part number for the flapper.
Old and worn faucet washers and gaskets frequently cause leaks in faucets. Many tutorials are available online for how to fix a wide variety of faucets. Here are a couple of examples:
Faucet
Old and worn faucet washers and gaskets frequently cause leaks in faucets. Many tutorials are available online for how to fix a wide variety of faucets. Here are a couple of examples:
- The Do-It-Yourself Network has a handy reference on faucet repairs
- YouTube has numerous video tutorials on how to fix a dripping faucet
Some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making
sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem and
by using pipe tape to secure it. Pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, is
available at most hardware stores, is easy to apply, and can help tame unruly
leaks. For more complicated valve leaks in showers that drip when not in use,
contact an experienced handyperson or licensed plumber.
Outdoors
If you have an in–ground irrigation system,
check it each spring before use to make sure it wasn’t damaged. Or hire an
irrigation professional certified to inspect it for you. They will not only
help you detect and correct leaks in the system, but also maximize its
efficiency.
Finally, check your garden hose for leaks at
its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the
nylon or rubber hose washer, and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using
pipe tape and a wrench.
Have you done all that you can to try to
eliminate leaks from your home but still can't
nip that drip in the bud?
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 your leaking fixtures. If you consult with a plumbing
professional, and look for the WaterSense label when considering a new toilet,
faucet, or showerhead, you could increase your home's water efficiency.
Our professional team and our
highly skilled plumbers are expertly trained and experienced to exceed your
expectations. For your Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach emergency plumbing
needs contact our emergency plumbers, Benjamin
Franklin Plumbing.
We are
available 24 hours, 7 days a week to solve all your plumbing issues at your
convenience. you can also visit us online at: http://www.benfranklinplumber.com/wp/leakdetections for all your plumbing needs.
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