The True Cost of a Leak

There are few things more annoying than the drip drip drip of a leaking faucet, except maybe the astronomical water bill you’ll receive because of one.

Not only do leaks from toilets, faucets and shower heads cause your water bill to go up, but they are also one of the leading causes of water waste, causing harm to your pocket and the environment.

Even the smallest and slowest of dripping leaks can cause a lot of waste, as well as damage your appliances, grout, seals and flooring. This in turn can force you to have to repair and replace these household features more often than necessary.

The true cost of a leak can go much further than one high water bill. Read on to get a breakdown of different types of problematic leaks and what you can do about them.

Leaks and Water Waste

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides extensive information about leaks and the amount of water waste leaks can create. Even the smallest drips can cause massive amounts of water to be wasted.

According to the EPA:

• 10% of all homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day
• A faucet dripping at the rate of one drip per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year
• Household leaks waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water every year in the United States
• A shower that leaks 10 drips per minute wastes up to 500 gallons per year

These are just some numbers that reflect how problematic a leak can be. It’s important to identify and fix a leak as soon as possible to conserve water and limit waste. Don’t worry, fixing a leak can be easy and stress-free, and it’s always worth it in the long run.

The Price of a Leak

A dripping faucet may not seem like a big deal, but a leaky faucet at one drip per second can cost your household an extra $50 a year. A faster drip rate means that even more money is going down the drain. More serious leaks like a burst pipe can cost hundreds of dollars per day.

Not only do leaks and drips cause your water bill to go up, but if left for too long, they lead to mold and damage that will end up costing you much more in repairs and replacements. Mold is a very serious issue that can cause you thousands of dollars in removal, and more importantly, affect the health of everyone in your home.

Having regular maintenance and calling an experienced plumber at the first detection of a leak that you can’t fix yourself is the best way to ensure your bills stay low and your wallet stays full.

How to Find a Leak

Now that you understand the potential consequences of even the smallest leaks, you may be wondering what to do next.

Many leaks are easily identified by a constant dripping sound or pooled water around a toilet or pipe. But, there are certain types of leaks that are hidden or hard to find, and you may not even know that they’re there. Fortunately, there are easy ways to check if your home has any leaks you don’t know about.

The first thing you can do is check your water meter. Look at the meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes during this time, it usually indicates a leak. If you can’t find the leak, call a plumber to help you track it down. Keep tabs on your water bill, especially in the winter or colder months. If you notice any unusual hikes in prices, a leak is usually the culprit.

Examine pipes and faucets inside and outside your house. If there is water on the outside of the pipes, you probably have a leak.

Adding food coloring to your toilet tank and seeing if any color shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes can also indicate a leak. (*Flush the toilet immediately after checking to avoid the food coloring staining your tank and bowl.)

Fixing a Leak

Sometimes fixing a leak can be as easy as tightening your faucet or shower head to the stem pipe. Teflon tape or pipe tape (easily found at hardware stores) can also work as a quick fix that helps control less severe leaks until you can have a plumber take a look. Replacing old appliances or faucets is another way to easily fix leaks.

While you can sometimes tackle DIY leak fixes on your own, it’s almost always preferred to have an experienced plumber fix the problem to ensure that the leak is properly and permanently taken care of. Your plumber can quickly and thoroughly handle whatever type of leak you’re experiencing.

Luckily, Lenox plumbers are experts at handling leaks. Our team will clear up any leakage in your home in no time! Give us a call so we can repair your leaks, save your water bill and protect your home environment from extra water waste.