 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
*Leaks account for on average, 11,000 gallons of water wasted in the
home every year, which is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.
*The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1
trillion gallons per year. That's equivalent to the annual water use of Los
Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.
*Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
*Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers,
dripping faucets, and other leaking valves.
*Repairing or replacing dripping faucets, toilet valves, and showerheads
can save a homeowner more than 10% on their water bill.
*The vast majority of leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a
household with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other
high-efficiency appliances.
Leak Detection:
*A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage.
It's likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem it its winter
water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
*Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no
water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you
probably have a leak.
*One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food
coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without
flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this
experiment to avoid staining the tank.
Information provided by Plumbers Supply Company, Iowa City