Next time you get your water bill, take a look at your usage. If it’s more than 12,000 gallons a month for a family of four, you’ve got some serious leaks. That means you’re paying for water that’s going right down the drain. To stem the tide, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends checking your home for the most common causes of leaks during its annual Fix a Leak Week. Here are some of the agency’s tips.
Before checking for individual leaks, check your overall water usage by monitoring your water meter over a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter keeps inching up, you probably have a leak. The good news is that many common leaks are easy and inexpensive to fix. Here's how:
Toilets. Typically, toilets begin leaking when the toilet flapper or valve seal becomes old or worn out. A good way to check is to put some food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes to see if it color shows up in the toilet bowl. If it does, you’ll need to fix it. You can probably find the replacement part at your hardware store but to be sure, take the old part with you for comparison.
Faucets. Old and worn washers and gaskets are frequently the cause of faucet leaks. If you attempt to fix this leak yourself, remember to turn the water off under the sink before you start. You should also close the drain and cover the bottom of the sink or bathtub with a cloth so you don’t lose any of the small parts. By making a quick Google search, you can find how-to videos on YouTube as well as online instructions.
Showerheads. Some leaky showerheads are easy to fix while others may need professional attention. Make sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and pipe stem. You can use pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, to secure it. You may also need to replace the washer. If you suspect a valve leak, that’s the time to call the plumber.
Outdoor faucets. Check your garden hose for leaks at the connection to the spigot. If it leaks, try replacing the washer to ensure a tight connection to the spigot. You can also use pipe tape and a wrench. If you have in-ground irrigation, you should to check to make sure it wasn’t damaged by frost or freezing during winter. If it leaks, you may need professional help.
Top-rated replacement fixtures
If these simple fixes don’t work, it may be time to replace your toilet, faucet, or showerhead. Replacing your old fixtures with WaterSense models not only saves water but money too. Consumer Reports’ toilet tests feature many WaterSense models, including toilets from American Standard, AquaSource, Toto, and Kohler. In fact, you can spend as little as $100 on our CR Best Buy, the Aquasource AT1203-00 sold at Lowe’s, and get a toilet that will save you water for years to come.
We also test low-flow showerheads and recommend models from Moen, American Standard, and Waterpik. All our recommended models have very good or better shower feel and hot water delivery. In our faucet tests, we found few differences between brands, that’s why we base our recommendations on finish. Faucets with a PVD, or physical vapor deposition, finish resisted our best attempts at scratching them. Most faucets also have lifetime warranties that cover leaks and stains.
—Mary H.J. Farrell
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.
