Fix Those Leaks

Household leaks can waste more than 1 TRILLION gallons of water each year.

Yes, 1 TRILLION—That's a one with 12 zeros behind it (1,000,000,000,000). Those drippy faucets and leaking toilets are more than an annoyance; they cost you lots of money, and they waste LOTS of water. To check for leaks in your home, you first need to determine whether you're wasting water and then identify the source of the leak.

Here are some tips for finding leaks:

1. Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.
2. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
3. 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.)
4. Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks. EPA

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