Plumbing leaks are costing you hundreds per year
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an average of 10,000 gallons of water is wasted every year due to plumbing leaks. Putting this into perspective, 10,000 gallons of water is roughly the equivalent of doing 270 loads of laundry.
Common sources of plumbing leaks:
- Kitchen Faucet
- Shower/Tub Faucet
- Outdoor hose hydrant
- Showerheads
- Toilets
- Water Supply Lines
Identifying the source of the problem and knowing what it takes to make the repair is where a professional plumber comes in. Knowing a honest professional plumber that can make the necessary repairs is often times, the best solution.
Here are some of the common causes of leaking fixtures:
Toilets
Inside the tank of the toilet, there is a rubber flap that seals, preventing water from flowing into the tank. When this rubber flap is getting old or not properly adjusted, it is unable to make a good seal, allowing water to seep into the bowl, which then causes your toilet to run. Adjusting this flap, or simply replacing it, is a reasonable fix. If this doesn’t work or doesn’t seem to be the issue, a call to your friendly professional plumber may not be a bad choice.
Faucets
Faucets have small rubber seals inside them. If these seals are getting dried out, have broken, or are not installed properly, a leak will happen. Faucets, depending on the brand, can be relatively simple to replace these seals. If the seals are not the problem, it’s possible the faucet itself is old or faulty. A professional plumber will be able to identify the cause and repair it.
Water Supply Lines
Water supply lines are used to connect the water shut off valve to your fixture. These are fairly straightforward to repair. Over time, the seals can become dried out or broken. Simply replacing the supply lines is usually the fix for this issue. Before disconnecting any supply lines, make sure you have shut off the shut off valves (shut off valves can leak too, FYI). If you have any questions, call a professional plumber!
Plumbing leaks are usually ignored as it is human nature to not worry about something until absolutely necessary. By letting these leaks go unattended, the issue is only going to get worse as time goes on. Water damage can get very costly to repair. It’s best to repair the problem when it is identified to prevent any further damage in the future.
Leave A Comment