Each year in March, the water industry celebrates National Fix A Leak Week, but you can save water and money on your bill by finding and fixing leaks throughout the year.
Here are some tips for finding and fixing household leaks:
- If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons of use per month, most likely there are leaks.
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter reading changes, you probably have a leak.
- Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
- Some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem, using pipe tape as needed.
- If you have an in-ground irrigation system, check it to make sure it wasn’t damaged by winter frost or freezing.
- Also, check your garden hoses for leaks at the connection to the spigot. If it leaks, replace the hose washer and ensure a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench.
For more information on household leaks, please visit our website page on How to Read Your Meter and Locate a Leak via the “Learn More” link below.
Media Contact:
Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu