Save Water – Stop Those Restroom Leaks
If you’re looking to conserve water or just reduce your water bill then one of the first thing you can do yourself is to go around your home performing a quick water usage audit. Sure, changing your behavior is one way to control your water usage, but an even bigger savings may come in finding and fixing all those little drips and leaks around your bathroom that can end up costing you hundreds of dollars in water usage over the years.
The bathroom is the most common place to find a majority of minor water leaks that are preventable. The bathroom almost always has the most water outlets and is one of the most heavily used rooms in any home. Here are some are few common leaks you may find and be able to fix in a bathroom:
Dripping Sink Faucet: Sure, a little dripping from a sink faucet is annoying, but is it really a major waster of water? To find out you can put a cup under the dripping faucet and see how much water you collect in an hour and then multiply that amount by 24 hours. Chances are, you’ll be shocked by how much water you’re wasting. Most leaky faucets can be fixed by replacing the rubber washers in the handle mechanism or in the spout. Most faucets come with instructions on how to do this, though if you’re handy with a screwdriver and a wrench you should quickly be able to figure out how to replace the washers in your particular model.
Dripping or Leaking Shower/Tub Diverter: If you have a shower and bathtub combination in your bathroom then you probably have a shower diverter which allows you to divert the water from the tub faucet to the shower head. There are lots of different types of shower diverter valves and knobs, but they all essentially rely on a little rubber seal to block the water from the tub or shower faucet. These rubber seals can wear out and you’ll need to replace the entire shower diverter valve. Replacing that one piece will prevent water from running down the drain from your tub faucet when you’re taking a shower. This can lead to substantial water savings!
Constantly Running Toilet: A toilet that seems to run intermittently from time to time is almost definitely wasting a lot of water on a regular basis. The easiest, and most common, fix for a toilet that runs from time to time is to replace the toilet flapper. This repair takes a little bit of coordination and some understanding of how a toilet works, but it isn’t too complex and often doesn’t require any special tools.
Most leaks will only get worse over time, so it’s always a good idea to try to fix a leak as soon as it’s discovered to prevent more waste and possible damage. Fixing some of these minor leaks in your bathroom will not conserve water for the environment, but also save you money in your water bill.
There are lots of great ways to improve your home. You can visit the author’s website for more Do It Yourself home improvement projects.
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