Stopping Household Leaks Can Save Enough Water to Sustain Colorado Consumers for Nearly Three Years

DENVER, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. homes waste 1 trillion gallons of water each year through common, easy to fix, household leaks.  That's roughly the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami combined, and nearly three times the amount of water used by consumers statewide in Colorado. What's more, the EPA estimates a typical household leaks 11,000 gallons of water per year – enough to fill the fuel tank of a Boeing 757.

This year, the EPA is promoting "Fix a Leak Week" March 15 – 21 to remind Americans of the importance of checking household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems. Colorado-based Ace Hardware owner Andy Carlson says, "Fixing a household water leak is one of the easiest and most cost effective home improvement projects consumers can do.  The tools are inexpensive and the payoff is immediate."  Carlson advises consumers to start with toilets, faucets, showerheads and outdoor spigots.

Toilets: A toilet that runs constantly can waste more than 200 gallons of water each day - enough water for five loads of laundry that, over a year, could cost more than $150. According to Carlson, consumers can pick-up a free Fluidmaster die tablet at Ace to help detect a leaky toilet. "Place a tablet in the tank, and if color shows up in the bowl within 3-10 minutes, without flushing, you have a leak," he said.  Leaking toilets are most often caused by the toilet flapper, which fails over time because of decay or mineral build up. Replacing the entire unit is best, and is a relatively easy, inexpensive project.

Faucets: The visible drip makes a leaky faucet easy to detect. While each drip may seem insignificant, the typical one-drip-per-second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year - enough to fill 24,000 16oz water bottles. The fix is as simple as replacing worn out seats, washers and gaskets.

Showerhead: A leaky showerhead is also easy to detect because of the visible drip. Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by simply tightening the connection using teftlon tape and a wrench.

Outdoor Spigot: This spring when you turn on the garden hose, check for leaks at its connection to the spigot.  If you notice water where it shouldn't be the fix is simple, place the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using Teflon tape and a wrench.

Changing behavior and installing water efficient products can also help the environment and your pocket book. "By making a few simple changes, consumers can save roughly $200 annually on their water bills," said Carlson.

One new product that is easy to install and helps consumers save big bucks is the "One2flush" water saving toilet kit, which turns a standard toilet into a dual flush unit. Push the handle one way for liquids and the other way for solids, and the chamber knows exactly how much water to use during each flush. "According to the manufacturer it can help your family save 30 gallons of water per day, and thousands of gallons of water a year," said Carlson.  

Other money saving techniques that add up over the course of a year include:

• Put water-saving aerators on all of your faucets. If every household in America installed low flow faucet aerators it would save more than 60 billion gallons of water annually - more than enough water to supply everyone in Denver for a year and a half.  "Installing a faucet aerator is a very low cost measure that can pay for itself in a matter of days," said Carlson.
• If your toilet was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank.  
• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model. They're inexpensive, easy to install and can save up to 9,000 gallons in one year, which is enough water to sustain one person for almost two months.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and save up to 1,800 gallons.
• Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 3,600 gallons.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 300 gallons.

According to the EPA the typical single-family household uses at least 30 percent of its water outdoors, and some experts estimate more than 50 percent of landscape water goes to waste.  Carlson says, "A drip irrigation system uses up to 50 percent less water because no water is lost due to wind, runoff and evaporation."  Other tips for saving water outside include;

• If water runs off your lawn, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
• Check the root zone of your lawn or garden for moisture using a spade or trowel before watering. If it's moist two inches under the soil surface, you still have enough water.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.

If all Americans embraced water efficient practices and installed more water efficient appliances, the EPA estimates a cumulative savings of more than 3 trillion gallons of water and $18 billion dollars a year. And, aside from money saved on monthly bills, even small leaks can cause significant property damage with repairs quickly approaching hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.

To watch a video with more information and step-by-step instructions for fixing simple household links, visit http://www.youtube.com/rockymtnacehardware. Your local Helpful Ace Hardware expert can help you decide which practices and products will provide the most bang for your buck.

SOURCE Ace Hardware