The average home wastes nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year from easy-to-fix household leaks; that’s equivalent to washing 300 loads of laundry (or enough to do laundry for 10 months)!
During the month of March, we’re inviting everyone to take the 10-Minute Challenge to find and fix household leaks.
It’s easy! You could spend just 10 minutes walking your home checking for leaks. Or, you can do one thing each day from our checklist below for just a couple of minutes:
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- Check your water bill for January or February; if a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons of water in a month, you may have a leak.
- Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no one is using water. If the number changes, you may have a leak!
- Watch a video on using your water meter to check for leaks here.
- Use pipe tape or a wrench to ensure tight connections where showerheads attach.
- Watch a video to show you how here.
- Check faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replace them if necessary.
- Watch a video on fixing a leaky faucet here.
- Check for toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within a few minutes, you may need a new flapper. Flush afterward to avoid staining the tank.
- Find more information, including links to videos, on diagnosing and fixing toilet leaks here.
Remember, when you find a leak, be sure to turn off the water until the problem can be fixed. And, if you decide to replace a leaking or broken fixture, be sure to look for the WaterSense label when purchasing a new one. WaterSense-labeled products are third-party certified to be 20 percent more efficient than non-labeled fixtures without sacrificing performance.
If you suspect your home has a leak but can’t find it, your water provider may be able to help you troubleshoot by reviewing historical water use and checking your water meter for signs that there may be a leak.
Not sure what to do? When in doubt, hire a professional plumber to fix your leaky fixtures.
You can learn more about finding and fixing leaks from the WaterSense program here, and from Be Water Smart here.
