If you want to help the environment by saving water and save yourself some money then you should consider inspecting all your bathroom fixtures for leaks. If they do leak then you’ll want to fix those leaks as quickly as possible. Fortunately, many minor repairs around the bathroom are relatively easy to tackle if you have a little patience and a few very basic tools.
The bathroom is the most likely place to find a majority of minor water leaks that are fixable. It has the most outlets for water in most homes and it gets a lot of usage, so it’s understandable if sinks, toilets and showers start to leak after years of repeated daily use. Here, then, are some common leaks to look for:
Sink Faucet Drips: A sink faucet that leaks can be annoying, but most people don’t think much of it until they realize how much water they’re wasting each day. Try this: place a paper cup under the leaking faucet and see how much water you collect in an hour and then multiply that amount by 24 hours. Chances are, you’ll be shocked by how much water you’re wasting. In most cases you can get to the old washers in a sink faucet by taking off the handles (a screwdriver may be required) or by twisting off the spout tip. Each bathroom faucet is a little different, so you may need to dig out the manual or take your best guess about how to replace the washers in your faucet.
Leaky Shower/Tub Diverter: If you have a shower and tub combination in your bathroom then you probably have a shower knob which allows you to divert the water from the tub faucet to the shower head. They come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, but they all are prone to wear over time. Eventually these shower diverters leak and need to be fixed. Most work by pushing a little valve with a rubber seal back and forth. Over time that rubber can get dirty and crack and break as it dries out. This means that when you take a shower you’ll see water coming out from your tub faucet. That water is falling down the drain and being wasted.
Constantly Running Toilet: If you have a toilet that runs intermittently throughout the day then you might need to replace the toilet flapper to stop that excess water from leaking from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl. The flapper is a rubber or plastic trapdoor which lifts when you flush, and that rubber sometimes wears out and dry rots over time. It’s relatively easy to replace a toilet flapper and often doesn’t even require any special tools.
Fixing these common leaks is a great way to save water and money at the same time. The sooner you fix these leaks, the sooner you’ll reduce your water bill. Remember that leaks can actually become more damaging over time, so if you find a leak it’s always best to fix it sooner rather than later.
There are many affordable ways to improve your house. You can visit the author’s website for more Do It Yourself home improvement tips and tricks.