So, it’s not Christmas. It’s not Halloween. It’s not even National Mother-in-Law Day. (That’s Oct. 24.)
But the EPA’s annual Fix-A-Leak Week (March 15-21) shouldn’t pass without acknowledgment. There’s no good time to discover a leak in your house. But proactively looking for – and fixing them – can you save you money and hassle.
Why not take this week to ensure there are no leaks – under sinks, around showerheads and faucets, near the toilet? Consider inspecting hoses going to and from washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters and refrigerators. Repair or replace any damaged hoses. The EPA offers a checklist for chasing down leaks. If you should find one, don’t despair. Repair!
A wait-and-see approach with leaks is never advised. Leaks don’t fix themselves. And even a seemingly small leak can be a big waste. “A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year,” according to the EPA’s website.
That not good for the environment. And it’s not good for your wallet, either. Repairing water damage is expensive, and insurance won’t necessarily come to your rescue. “Homeowners insurance covers water damage that is ‘sudden and accidental’ but not gradual problems or maintenance issues,” according to a Feb. 19, 2021 Forbes article. “If you have a problem like a leaky faucet, it’s best to take care of it as soon as possible.”
It also helps to know where the water hogs are in your house. Here’s a room-by-room analysis of potential water wasters and tips on how to save.
Bathroom
Not surprisingly, the bathroom is the biggest culprit. In a typical home, a bathroom uses 42% of the household’s water. There are ways to cut that down:
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
- Make showers your norm and baths an occasional treat. A shower typically uses 10 to 25 gallons of water. A bath can use up to 70 gallons!
- Switch to WaterSense products. By switching to a WaterSense labeled toilet, you can save up to 60% of water per flush. A WaterSense-labeled faucet can save up to 30% of water per minute, and a WaterSense labeled shower can save up to 40% of water per shower. Find WaterSense products on the EPA’s WaterSense product search webpage.
- Detecting a toilet leak is easy. “Place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank,” advises the EPA. “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.)”
- Get a low-flow toilet. Older toilets can use as much as 7 gallons of water per flush. EPA WaterSense-certified toilets use just 1.3 to 1.6 gallons per flush. Dual-flush toilets use even less water.
Laundry room
Around 15% of a home’s water consumption happens in the laundry room. To maximize that room’s efficiency:
- Wash only full loads. Or adjust the washing machine dial to match the load level.
- Wash clothes on the shortest cycle possible.
- Avoid the permanent press setting, as it uses warm and cold water and includes an extra rinse.
Kitchen
Your kitchen uses about 13% of your home’s water supply. Keep that number as low as possible:
- Wash only a full load of dishes.
- Scrape food waste from your plate into the compost bin or trash rather than rinsing your plate in the sink.
- If you hand wash, plug up the sink while you wash.
*Pro Tip: Water can be repurposed. Capture under your colander the potable water you use to rinse fruits and veggies, and use it on your houseplants or in the garden. You can do the same while you wait for water to get hot.
Outside
If you live in a house – rather than an apartment or condo – your outdoor water usage could account for 30% of your total.
- Using native plants that are water-efficient can help make your yard drought-resistant.
- Switching to a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save up to 15% of water usage.
- Don’t water your driveway! Between 30% and 60% of domestic drinking water is used to water yards and gardens, and much of that is wasted by over-watering, evaporation and misdirected sprinklers.
- If you have a small garden area, water by hand.
Fix-A-Leak Week probably isn’t anyone’s favorite holiday. But dedicating some time to finding and fixing leaks in your home pays off with peace of mind – and it could save you time and money down the road. And that is worth celebrating.
