Fix a Leak Week

The Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program has designated March 18-24 as the fifth annual “Fix a Leak Week.” MLGW urges you to check your plumbing and irrigation systems through three simple steps: check, twist, replace. In other words, check your home for leaks, twist and tighten fixture connections, and replace the fixture if needed. By finding and fixing leaks over the course of a week, you could save more than 11,000 gallons of water per year – enough to fill a backyard swimming pool – and up to 10 percent on your utility bills.

In just 10 minutes, businesses and homeowners can: check winter water bills and fixtures for water waste; twist and tighten pipe and hose connections; and consider replacing broken or inefficient fixtures with WaterSense-labeled models. 

If winter water usage for a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, it’s likely that the home has a leak problem. Here are some easy tips:

• Check toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank at the back and, if after 10 minutes, color shows up in the bowl before flushing, it may be time to make an easy repair and replace the flapper.
• Check outdoor hoses for damage from winter frost and tighten connections at the water source.
• For in-ground sprinkler systems, a professional certified through a WaterSense-labeled program can inspect sprinkler heads and pipes for signs of leakage and help homeowners maintain an efficient system and healthy lawn.
• Check additional plumbing and outdoor fixtures for leaks. They may just need a quick twist or pipe tape.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Since the program's inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save 287 billion gallons of water and $4.7 billion in water and energy bills.

Learn more about fixing leaks, find a certified irrigation professional, or search for WaterSense labeled plumbing and irrigation products: http://www.epa.gov/watersense