Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fix A Leak Week is Back!

Tips to fix leaks in your home

The Facts on leaks

March 14-20th, 2016 is designated national Fix a Leak Week, a week aimed at promoting awareness of water waste and what you can do to save water and money!

Did you know that leaky faucets, running toilets, old and worn out plumbing fixtures and faulty irrigation controllers contribute to over 1 trillion gallons of water waste over the course of a year? That much water waste can seriously impact your pocket book!

Fix a Leak Week encourages you to take control of your water use by checking places where leaks typically occur.  Families can save thousands of gallons of water yearly by checking on common leaks and in turn, they can save more than 10% on their water bills.

The Fix a Leak Week premise is simple: Take 10 minutes. Check the faucets, toilets, dishwasher and other sources for potential leaks. Take the necessary steps to fix the leaks and help save approximately 10,000 gallons of water in your home annually.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you started:

  • Check your meter:  Don’t flush the toilet, run the faucet, or use any water for two hours. Check the meter again. If the meter does not read the same, you probably have a leak.
  • Check your faucets: A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons in a year. Replace worn washers and gaskets.
  • In the bathroom: Check shower heads for age-related leaks. Look for decayed or broken “flappers” in toilets. Not sure what that is? It’s the rubber piece that opens up to let the water flow from the tank into the bowl when you pull down the toilet handle.

For additional tips, visit the “Tips and Advice” section of the City’s Water Conservation webpage.

If you’re near Southlake Town Hall the week of March 14th, stop by the lobby on the 2nd floor and enjoy informational displays, handouts, and free items designed to reduce water consumption in your home.

In addition, this year the Public Works Environmental Services division will be hosting an online social media contest for those who learn to fix their own leaks. Tag the City of Southlake in a photo of you fixing a leak with the hashtag #IFixLeaks for a chance to win a free WaterSense labeled showerhead and other prizes!