Drop Your Water Consumption By Fixing Leaks

A leak of just one drop per second will waste 2,400 gallons of water a year. You can drop your water consumption by simply fixing leaks, saving you money and conserving water. It’s a win win. And fixing leaks isn’t that difficult!

Besides the wasted water that is caused by a leak even just a small drip that goes on continuously can rot away everything around it leading to a much more expensive repair because of the extensive damage.

As soon as you spot a leak shot off the water, locate the leak, and fix the problem. Leaks were the pipe is not visible can be trickier to fix because water can run a long way from where the original leak occurs. But sooner or later you will need to fix it so why not start right now? Before the wood rot sets in, the paint begins to peal, the insects move in, and your water bill goes up.

Prevention is always the first choice. Once or twice a year do a thorough inspection and look for leaks then deal with them immediately. However, you will also have to deal with unexpected leaks that occur.

Faucets are a common source of water waste. If you have a faucet that is dripping it’s time to replace either the rubber washers or the entire faucet. Sometimes it’s easier to replace the faucet. Shut the water off to the house and follow the installation directions supplied. Faucets are one of the easiest water leaks to fix.

Leaking pipes are the next most common cause of a leak. They generally come on fast with no warning and can range from a completely broken pipe, common with pipes that freeze or have a seam let go, to just a small drip which by the way over time can cause the seam to completely let go. The most important think with a pipe leak is to get the water flow under control.

Start by shutting the water off at the main valve. Then open all of your faucets to relieve the pressure on the lines. It will also drain the water from the pipes so that you can initiate the repair.

There are several ways to quickly fix a leaking pipe. Which method you use depends on your preference, the type of pipe, and the location.

You can purchase a rubberized compound that is designed to stop water leaks at a join which is the common place for a leak to occur. Simply apply a thick coating of the mixture around the seam and let set. In a pinch you can also use a piece of rubber. Wrap it around the pipe and then apply a stainless steel hose clamp or C clamp.

You can also buy water activated fiberglass resin tape. You soak the tape in water, then wrap it around the leak and smooth with your hands. Allow it to cure according to the directions and then you can turn your water back on.

This is a handy fix for joins and for pinhole leaks in a pipe. Keep in mind that you should eventually replace the pipe that has developed the pin hole as this is indicative of a weak pipe and it’s only going to give you more grief in the future.

For leaks around fittings you can use a two part epoxy. Apply it over the leak and then allow to cure as directed.

If you are dealing with PVC or PB plastic pipe you can cut out the damaged section of pipe with a hacksaw, then replace with new pipe that has a compression fitting on each end. Tighten the coupling by hand and gently snug with pliers. Do not over tighten as you will strip the plastic threads and it will leak again.

Water leaks are a major source of increased water usage. Drop your water consumption by fixing leaks as soon as possible. You’ll save water, money, and the cost of long term damage which can result.

Aura Mirchandani is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory.