Water leaks may seem harmless, but they can quickly escalate into one of the biggest problems around your home. Not only do leaks waste water, but they can also send utility bills sky-high, invite mold growth and cause expensive damage to your house.
As you review your home’s efficiency this Earth Month, take these simple steps to get rid of water leaks.
Update your appliances
Older toilets can be some of the biggest water wasters in your house. Toilers installed before 1992 can use as many as seven gallons of water with every flush. However, all toilets sold since 1992 must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. And toilets that have earned the WaterSense label from the Environmental Protection Agency use 1.28 gallons per flush or less and provide the same performance as less-efficient toilets. To avoid flushing your hard-earned money down the toilet, consider upgrading older toilets to new, high-efficient models like WaterSense toilets. The EPA says these water-saving latrines can save 13,000 gallons of water per year for an average annual savings of $140.
While toilets account for the most water usage, you shouldn’t overlook other appliances. For instance, washing machines account for nearly a quarter of your water use. High-efficiency washing machines use less water, and many models let you adjust for the size of the laundry load. Similarly, newer dishwashers that carry the Energy Star logo use less water and consume less energy than older models.
