Thursday, March 28, 2024

Save Water During Fix a Leak Week!

March 15-21, 2021 is designated as national Fix a Leak Week, a week aimed at promoting water waste awareness and what you can do to save water and money.

Did you know annual household leaks can waste a trillion gallons of water nationwide? Household leaks can be found in kitchen faucets, toilets, showerheads and other water fixtures. These leaks are usually easy to fix and can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bill.

Fix a Leak Week encourages you to check your home for leaks and make minor repairs that will pay for themselves in water savings. Take 10 minutes to do the following to save water and money:

  • Sign up for EyeOnWater: Your free EyeOnWater account will allow you to view your water usage by the hour! You can set up alerts to let you know if you might have a leak in your home.
  • Check your faucets: Replace old and worn gaskets to prevent leaky faucet heads. A leaky faucet dripping at a rate of one drop per second can waste over 3,000 gallons each year!
  • Check your bathroom: Open the toilet tank up to check on the flapper, the rubber piece that controls water flow. Decayed flappers can prevent valve control during flushing, causing leaks. Check your showerhead for age-related leaks. If you notice mineral deposits building up on your showerhead, you can soak the showerhead in vinegar to remove the deposits. Be sure to flush the water for a few minutes after cleaning the showerhead before showering.
  • Check outdoors: Check on your sprinkler system around spring to ensure it was not damaged by winter weather. Free sprinkler evaluations are offered by Southlake’s WISE Guys program.

For more information on fixing leaks, check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s website at www.epa.gov/watersense. Remember you can find, and fix household leaks all year long!

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