Fix A Leak Week Is March 18-24

There are things you can do on your own to see if you have a leak. Here are a few simple things you can do:

1) Check your water meter reading before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.

2) 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.)

3) For leaks on visible plumbing fixtures, examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water or mineral deposits on the pipe that may indicate a leak. Many times, leaky faucets or showerheads can be fixed using pipe tape, which can close up small leaks when applied correctly and tightly. There are many online tutorials to help a home handy man fix leaks around the house.

4)  Remember, homes with pools and yards can use as much as 70 percent of their water outside. So be sure to check sprinklers and pools.

Check out the EPA’s Fix a Leak Week video:

For helpful hints to hunt down those leaks, the EPA website has information to locate and repair them. Check it out here.