DIY plumbing fixes -save water

Spartan Plumbing wants you to know that if your home’s (or business) bathroom fixtures were made prior to 1995, then most likely you flush money down your toilet every time you flush.

Save Utility Bill

Water Sense toilets, replacing or repairing the leaking plumbing fixtures are some of the solutions for saving your utility bill and gallons of water. By repairing leaky sprinkling systems and the plumbing fixtures, then at least 10% of your bill can be saved and around ten thousand gallons saved. The Environmental Protection Agency has given its annual reminder message, March 16-22, of the Fix a Leak Week for people to be much stingier in the use of water.

The Office of Water EPA’s Acting Administrator, says that leaks in households that are easy-to-fix waste 1 trillion gallons plus, every year nationwide. This amount is the same as that used by greater than 11 million households.

Tips for Detecting Leaks

The water usage by a family of four should not exceed 12,000 gallons each month, as a rule of thumb. If this amount is exceeded during winter then there may be a leak in the home. The EPA gives the following easy tips:

• To determine if you have a leak, check the water meter prior to, as well as after 2 hours when you were using no water. Any change in the meter may point to a leak.
•  Place a tiny drop of food coloring in your toilet tank. After about 15 minutes, check the bowl. If there is any color in the bowl, then you may have a leakage. This is how to identify leaks in toilets. Just remember to flush immediately; you don’t want the tank getting stained.
•  Examine pipe fittings and faucet gaskets for signs of water on their outside as this indicates surface leaks.
•  Examine the garden hose and check for leaks. Check the entire length and especially the connection point to your spigot. Any leak when running the hose can be reduced by replacing the washer, whether rubber or nylon. Make sure the connection is tight by using a wrench or pipe tape.

Repair Leaky Faucets

Toilets made after 1995 by law should utilize not greater than 1.6 gallons for each flush. The EPA has set the requirements at 1.28 gallons for each flush or even less. You should ensure that any leaks are curbed and dealt with accordingly. Spartan Plumbing suggest that if you perform the above tests and suspect a leak you should call in an expert to arrest the problem fast. Save money by repairing leaky faucets. Call our office at 500-1787 today.