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Fix a Leak Week

PSC Offers Easy Repairs to Save Valuable Water and Money

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) urges you to check your household plumbing during EPA’s 10th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 19-25.

“Fix a Leak Week is a reminder to quit putting off those easy, do-it-yourself plumbing repairs,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham. “Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, and it’s important that we each do our part to curb this needless waste.”

According to the EPA, the average household leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water every year, with 10 percent of homes wasting 90 gallons or more per day. The good news is that many leaks inside and outside homes are easy to fix and save not only valuable water supplies, but also money through lower utility bills.

Common types of residential leaks are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. Fixing these leaks often requires only a few tools and hardware, and can save about 10 percent on a water bill. DIY tools pay for themselves in water savings!

Here are some quick tips to identify leaks in your home:

  • Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. Leaks are indicated if a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
  • Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color appears in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
  • Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

The PSC makes your job easier with helpful guidelines found in its Drop by Drop brochure.  Find more information on Fix a Leak Week here.

Fix a Leak Week: PSC Offers Easy Repairs to Save Water and Money

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Are you ready to chase down leaks? Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, equaling the water use of more than 11 million homes. Joining with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) reminds consumers to “hunt down the drips” during Fix a Leak Week 2017, March 20-26.

Sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense program, the ninth annual Fix a Leak Week encourages consumers to find and fix household leaks to save valuable water and money. Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons of water per day. If left unrepaired, these leaks waste more than 30,000 gallons a year, enough water to wash more than 800 loads of laundry!

“Add finding and fixing leaks to your spring cleaning to-do list,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “The PSC makes the hunt for leaks both inside and outside your home easier with our Drop by Drop brochure. A few simple repairs can save water and reduce your utility bill year round.”

According to the EPA, fixing water leaks can lower your water bill by more than 10 percent. Here are some easy repairs for common household leaks:

  1. CHECK toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank to see if the color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots, too.
  2. TWIST and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist in a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.
  3. REPLACE the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which signifies the product has been certified to save water and perform well.

Find more information on Fix a Leak Week here.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.