The Illinois Commerce Commission is reminding Illinoisans to check their household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks as a part of national Fix-a-Leak Week this March 16-22.
“Every year, household leaks waste approximately 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide. Chasing down leaks can help Illinoisans shave up to 10 percent off monthly water bills,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott.
EPA’s WaterSense® program has several tips to help detect and fix leaks:
- Replace worn-out toilet flappers to stop a running toilets.
- Place a few drops of food coloring in toilet tanks. If after 10 minutes the color shows up in the bowl, there’s a leak.
- Ensure a tight connection between showerhead and pipe stem to stop leaks. Pipe or Teflon tape is an easy fix to control minor leaks.
- Look at cold weather month water bills. If water usage exceeds 12,000 gallons per month for a family of four or less or there are spikes in water usage, there likely is a serious leak.
- Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. Any changes to the meter means you have a leak.
Always be sure to turn off the water line before starting repairs. Unsure about how to start? EPA WaterSense has a list of tutorials to fix minor leaks. For serious leaks, contact a licensed plumber.
For more water-saving tips read the ICC’s water conservation guide and visit EPA WaterSense.
