Happy Fix a Leak Week

Fix a Leak Week returns! This annual celebration, observed the third week of March, brings awareness to water waste caused by household leaks. Did you know that approximately 10% of homes have leaks that can waste 90 gallons of water or more daily? Don’t let that home be yours.
In one year, household leaks can cause nearly 1 trillion gallons of water waste nationwide, enough to supply 11 million homes! Ignoring leaks can lead to worsening issues over time and higher water bills. The good news is, locating and fixing household leaks is relatively easy and inexpensive.
Fix a Leak Week is March 18-24. But remember, fixing leaks and conserving water is a year-round effort. Now is the ideal time to start checking your home for leaks.
How to Start:
Water Meter: Begin by checking your water meter. Stop all water use at your home. Then check the dial on your meter. If it’s still moving, you probably have a leak.
Toilets: Damaged toilet flappers can lead to significant leaks. A leaking flapper can waste approximately 1,000 gallons of water per day. To determine if your toilet flapper needs replacing, add a small amount of food coloring to the toilet tank. After 10 minutes, inspect the toilet bowl; the presence of color indicates a leak. Remember to flush the toilet afterwards to prevent staining. Fixing this leak is simple! Toilet flappers are affordable and available to purchase at most home improvement stores.
Showerheads: Showerheads can leak enough water to run a dishwasher 60 times! With 10 drips per minute, a leaky showerhead can waste more than 500 gallons of water per year. For a quick fix, use pipe tape to secure a connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem. However, if your shower can fill a 1-gallon bucket in 20 seconds, it’s time to upgrade. Replace the showerhead with a more efficient model.
Faucets: Over time, the washers and gaskets in faucets wear out and cause leaks. Check for surface water on the pipes to see if your faucet has a leak. Leaky faucets can waste over 3,000 gallons of water per year at one drip per second. That’s enough water for 180 showers!
Outside: Don’t forget about the outside of your home! Check your garden hose for leaks at the connection to the spigot. To fix, replace the hose washer or tighten the hose to the spigot with pipe tape or a wrench. If you have an in-ground irrigation system, make sure to check for leaks or contact a licensed professional to inspect your system and make any repairs if you’re not comfortable in doing them yourself. Also, be sure to check your irrigation system each spring for weather damage before use. 
Any questions concerning a leak can be directed to our Water Conservation team by calling 407-944-5124 or emailing waterconservation@tohowater.com. For tutorials and more information on Fix a Leak Week visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.