What should every home owners know about water leaks? It may start as a just a couple of drips here and there, but the cost of wasted water adds up quickly. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average home in America waste 10,000 gallons of water each year. This adds up to over 1 trillion gallons of precious water wasted every year in our country!
All it takes is a crack in the irrigation system, a pinhole leak in a pipe behind the wall, a drippy faucet or running toilet, and water is lost. According to the EPA fact sheet, 10 percent of homes waste over 90 gallons of water everyday! Common areas to keep an eye out for are household appliances, such as dishwasher, hot water heater, and ice maker, toilet flapper, and shower heads.
It is also important to know, homeowners are also responsible for pipes they cannot see, such as under a concrete slab, between walls, behind the shower, and even under the ground. Most insurance companies do not cover the damages from a slow water leak that may have been found during routine maintenance.
This is why it is important to stay proactive about water leaks. The EPA says the average family of 4 uses around 12,000 gallons of water a month, or 3,000 gallons per person. Next time you receive your water bill take a look on how many gallons you used, if it exceeds the average, you probably have a water leak.
They also suggest to check the water meter while all the water is turned off in the home, leave all the water off for about 2 hours and check the meter again. If there are any changes, chances are you have a leak.
Spring is also a good time to check your irrigation for any leaks. Even a tiny leak, 1/32nd of an inch, can waste of 6,000 gallons in just a month.
If you suspect a water leak in your home, contact the Leak Doctor for an appointment before the damages get worse.
