Save water, save money

Want to save a little green for both your wallet and the environment? Take a look around the house! Simple fixes, like repairing leaky faucets or stopping a running toilet, can help save water and reduce your water bill.

Look for leaks

A dripping faucet isn’t just wasting you water – it’s draining the money right out of your pocket! This is an easy fix, and only takes a few parts from the hardware store and about an hour of time.

If you notice a leaky faucet in your bathroom or kitchen, start by shutting off the water to the faucet and then run out any water that’s left in the pipes. Once all of the water has flushed away, plug the drain in the sink – faucets have plenty of small pieces and the last thing you want is to lose one down the drain!

Use a screwdriver to take off faucet handles, and inspect the washer that was behind the handle. The washers, which can degrade over time or rust, are the usual suspect in faucet leaks. Once you’ve removed the washer, take it to the hardware store and find a suitable replacement.

When you get home, put the new washer where the old one was, and replace the handle. Use the screwdriver to tighten the handle and turn the water back on to the faucet. Last, turn the water on and check for leaks. If everything has gone according to plan, your faucet should be water tight!

Fix a running toilet

You flush the toilet, only to come back hours later and find it still running. Don’t call a plumber: Take a look inside and fix the problem yourself! You need to catch the toilet in the act to see if it’s running. Take off the lid and have a look. One of the first things you’ll see – and the most likely culprit of a running toilet – is the flapper, the large rubber plug that keeps the water in your toilet bowl.

The flapper works with the lever and chain, or the pieces that make the flapper rise and fall when flushed. Inspect the entire system first. Is the chain tangled or catching on something? Is the flapper lined up right - or is it starting to fall apart?

In many cases, a few minor adjustments to this system are enough to get your toilet back up and running. You should be able to adjust the shape or angle of the lever with your hands or shorten the length of the chain with a pair of needle-nose pliers. You can even purchase replacement parts for this system at the hardware store and replace the entire thing yourself.

Or hire a plumber

Of course, if any of these simple repairs don’t solve your leaky faucets or running toilets – or if you don’t feel comfortable making the repairs yourself – consider hiring a plumber to make them for you. Although it’s a bit expensive up front, the savings in the long tem will be more because of smaller bills for water use.

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