Save water, save money

Want to save a little green for both your wallet and the environment? Take a look around your 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 spot a leaky faucet, start by shutting off the water to the faucet, and run out any water 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 your local hardware store to find a replacement.

When you get home, place the new washer in the position of the old washer 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 all has gone according to plan, it 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, just look inside and fix it yourself! To start, you need to catch the toilet in the act, while it’s still running. First, remove the lid and look inside. One of the first things to look at – the likely suspect of a running toilet – is the flapper, the rubber plug that keep the water in the bowl.

The flapper works with the lever and chain, or the pieces that make the flapper rise and fall when flushed. Inspect this entire system first. Is the chain caught on something or tangled? Is the flapper properly aligned or is starting to degrade and fall apart?

In many cases, a few minor adjustments to this system are enough to get your toilet back up and running. You ought to be able to adjust the angle or shape of the lever easily, or shorten the chain with needle nose pliers. You can even purchase replacement parts at a local hardware store, and replace it 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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