How to Find and Fix Leaks in Your Home

Will you be doing any spring cleaning this weekend?  Add your plumbing system to your check list!  We are encouraging all homeowners to look around their home for plumbing leaks. Not only are leaks easy to correct, but they can also help you save water, money, and the environment.

Here are a few places to look for common plumbing leaks in your home for #FixALeakWeek!

How to Fix Common Leaks:

• Toilets - Most toilet leaks are caused by an old or worn out toilet flapper.  This seal is a fairly inexpensive rubber part, but minerals can build up on them and they can decay over time.  Bring the old flapper to the hardware store and compare - and call us if you have any questions!
• Faucets - Faucet leaks are very common and there are a number of DIY video tutorials on YouTube that you can find here.  If you don't trust your DIY skills, our plumbing technicians can help you get the job done right the first time.
• Showerheads - Leaky showerheads can often be corrected just by making sure that there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stems

For more tips and tricks on how to find and correct common household leaks this week, check out the WaterSense website.  You can also contact AP Plumbing with any questions.  Our professional technicians can help you with all of your plumbing needs.  Call 585-216-3058 to contact AP Plumbing!

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Celebrate Fix a Leak Week!

Photo Source: EPA

Did you know that household leaks can waste more than a trillion gallons of water each year nationwide?  That's the same as the annual water usage for 11 million homes!  This year, we remind everyone in Rochester to do their part in helping the environment by checking their household fixtures for leaks.  Here are a few places to look in your home.

How to Detect Leaks:

• Check Your Water Usage - If your household winter water use exceeded 12,000 gallons per month, it's likely that you have a serious leak problem.
• Look at the Water Meter - Check your water meter during a time when no water is being used in your home.  Check again two hours later.  If you notice that you meter doesn't read the same, then you likely have a leak.
• Experiment with the Toilet Tank - Place a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank.  If you notice that the coloring shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes (without flushing), you have a leak.  Just be sure to flush after this experiment to avoid staining!
• Be Observant - Look for drips and leaks in your faucets and showerheads.  A showerhead leak can waste more than 500 gallons of water per year!
• Check the Garden Hose - It has been a cold winter.  If you left your garden hose outside, it's possible that the hose has frozen and will leak when used in the spring.  Check the hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot.

Visit the Environmental Protection Agency website for more information on how you can prevent leaks this week, as well as all year round.  You can also contact AP Plumbing with any questions you have.  Our professional technicians can help you with all of your plumbing needs.  Call 585-216-3058 to contact AP Plumbing!

For more tips, Like us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and Connect with us on Google+!