Leaky faucets are a common nuisance in bathrooms and kitchens, and when you consider just how much water leaky faucets can end up wasting over an extended period of time, they actually turn out to be much more than a mere nuisance.
Here’s a quick calculation:
Let’s say that you have a leaky bathroom faucet that drips one drop of water every second. After 1 minute, that’s 60 drops of water, which is about 1 tablespoon (when we estimate that 20 drops of water are in 1 teaspoon). At this rate, your faucet will waste 1 gallon of water every 4 hours and 16 minutes. If your faucet were to continue leaking at this rate for one month, it would ultimately waste about 168.75 gallons of water in that month. After one year, you would waste about 2,053.13 gallons, of water.
Now let’s convert these numbers to cost. According to the American Water Works Association, a gallon of tap water costs $0.004 per gallon. Going back to our leaky faucet that releases one drop every second, after one year, you will have spent $8.21.
$8.21 may not sound like much to spend on a faucet leak over the course of a year, but you should remember that many faucet leaks are larger than the leak used in this example. Plus, you could have multiple leaks in your home. Moreover, sink faucet leaks are not the only type of leak that can happen in your home. Other common types of leaks found in the home include showerheads, tub faucets, hose spigots, worn toilet flappers, and other leaking valves. Most leaks can be repaired at home with a basic set of plumbing tools, but you can always rely on an experienced plumber like those of us here at Electric Rooter to take care of all of your leaks and plumbing needs.
Unsure as to whether your home has a leak somewhere in its plumbing system? There are a variety of ways to check. First, of course, you should visually inspect your faucets, showerheads, and spigots for any signs of a leak. Be sure to look any puddles of water around your faucets, as well. It can also help to wrap a paper towel or paper bag around any suspected problem areas and to observe them after a couple of hours have passed. Last but not least, your water bill and water meter can both tell you a great deal. If during the winter months, you and your family are using more than 12,000 gallons per month, your home could have a serious leak problem. And if you check your water meter, refrain from using water for two hours, and then check your water meter again only to find that your usage level has changed, this could also be a sign of a leak somewhere in your home’s plumbing system.
