Fixing Leaks
Leaks can waste a surprisingly high amount of water. Even a slow drip can waste more than 100 gallons of water per week. Plumbers can cost $50 or more per hour, but a medium-size leak can set you back over $100 per month.
15-minute, surefire way to find out if you've got a leak:
- Turn off all the water inside and outside your house, then look for your water meter. If the meter's hand is moving, you've got a leak. If it's not moving, note the position of the meter and recheck it in 10 minutes. If it moved, you've got a slow leak.
- If your toilet sounds like it's running long after you flush or you have to jiggle the handle to get it to stop, it's probably wasting water.
- The dye test: Flush the toilet, then add a teaspoon of food coloring to the tank - don't flush it. After an hour, check the bowl. If you can see any dye, your toilet's leaking.
