The sound of a dripping faucet or toilet “ghost” flushing can keep anyone up at night. But it’s not just the sound of wasted water that’s annoying. The average American household leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water each year, tacking an extra 10 percent on to homeowner’s water bills that no one wants to have to pay. On a national level it really adds up, household water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water lost each year! That’s something that should keep everyone up at night!
To help combat this epidemic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program is encouraging American’s to take a few minutes during the sixth annual Fix a Leak Week (March 17-23) to chase down and fix leaks in their homes.
Americans don’t have to go the extra mile to find and fix leaks in their homes. They can even take a few short cuts and just remember three simple words – check, twist, replace. Next thing they know they’ll be off and running to a water-saving home!
Check the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, there’s probably a leak.
Twist faucet and showerhead fittings to make sure they’re on tight. If there is any water on the outside of the pipe check for surface leaks. Some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the pipe stem and using pipe tape to secure it. And if that doesn’t work…
Replace old, inefficient fixtures with Water Sense labeled models.
Selecting products (toilets, bathroom faucets, showerheads and urinals) that have earned the WaterSense label doesn’t just mean they save water (they’re all at least 20 percent more water-efficient) it also means they’re high performing. All WaterSense labeled products are backed by independent testing and certification to ensure they perform as well as or better than standard models. This means you don’t have to worry about the annoying drawbacks of the “low-flow” products of the past. Remember those annoying drips and ghost flushes? That’s nothing when compared to a toilet that needs to be flushed multiple times to do what it needs to do to get the job done. Choosing WaterSense labeled products means everyone (the plumber and the homeowner!) can be confident that the job will not only get done but ease stress on plumbing systems and wallets.
To help Americans chase down those leaks WaterSense partners are getting creative. In addition to sponsoring workshops, clinics, product rebates/give-a-ways and even community races to raise awareness of leak detection and repair. Find out if something is happening in your community by checking the 2014 Fix a Leak Week Event Map and join the race to fix leaks!
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