Helping you go Green
Did you know that an average of 8% of all home water use is wasted through leaks? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year. Leaks can account for, on average, 11,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, which is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.*
A leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day.*
TIP: A leaking faucet can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary.
TIP: If you think you might have a water leak in the house or have had a high water bill try this. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when you know that no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
TIP: To tell if your toilet has a leak, place a drop of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
TIP: If you have a toilet that is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses at least 3.5 gallons per flush. Today's new and improved models offer 1.3 gallons per flush (gpf) or better. With these new high-efficiency models a family of four could save more than $90 annually on their water bill and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet.*
TIP: Just by installing a garbage disposal you can help reduce chemical contamination of our drinking water. When food waste is dumped in landfills, bacteria and other harmful organisms could seep into the ground and contaminate the water supply. But if you put food waste in the disposal it is ground into fine particles and safely flushed into your sewage system.
TIP: Build up of food debris in your garbage disposal can lead to foul odors in your kitchen. Just by placing some ice cubes and lemon peels in your disposal and running for about 30 seconds you may eliminate some of that odor.
TIP: If you have a running toilet you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day* The cause of a leaking toilet is most often an old, deteriorated toilet flapper. Over time this rubber part becomes decayed, or gets hard water build up on it. It's usually best to rebuild the inside of your toilet replacing the flapper with a new one.
TIP: Do you know where the main shut off valve to your home is? Knowing where this is located could save valuable time and money if a broken pipe causes water to flow into your home. It is recommended that you locate all of your shut off valves in the home such as: kitchen sink, lavatory, water heater; and open and close these at least once a year. By doing this you can help prevent the valve from getting "stuck" in the open or off position.
TIP: Going away? Remember to turn off the main shut off valve to your home to prevent any water damage while you are away. Also turning off the electricity to your water heater will help to save money on the heating in your absence.
* According to reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as of March 2010
A leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day.*
TIP: A leaking faucet can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary.
TIP: If you think you might have a water leak in the house or have had a high water bill try this. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when you know that no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
TIP: To tell if your toilet has a leak, place a drop of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
TIP: If you have a toilet that is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses at least 3.5 gallons per flush. Today's new and improved models offer 1.3 gallons per flush (gpf) or better. With these new high-efficiency models a family of four could save more than $90 annually on their water bill and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet.*
TIP: Just by installing a garbage disposal you can help reduce chemical contamination of our drinking water. When food waste is dumped in landfills, bacteria and other harmful organisms could seep into the ground and contaminate the water supply. But if you put food waste in the disposal it is ground into fine particles and safely flushed into your sewage system.
TIP: Build up of food debris in your garbage disposal can lead to foul odors in your kitchen. Just by placing some ice cubes and lemon peels in your disposal and running for about 30 seconds you may eliminate some of that odor.
TIP: If you have a running toilet you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day* The cause of a leaking toilet is most often an old, deteriorated toilet flapper. Over time this rubber part becomes decayed, or gets hard water build up on it. It's usually best to rebuild the inside of your toilet replacing the flapper with a new one.
TIP: Do you know where the main shut off valve to your home is? Knowing where this is located could save valuable time and money if a broken pipe causes water to flow into your home. It is recommended that you locate all of your shut off valves in the home such as: kitchen sink, lavatory, water heater; and open and close these at least once a year. By doing this you can help prevent the valve from getting "stuck" in the open or off position.
TIP: Going away? Remember to turn off the main shut off valve to your home to prevent any water damage while you are away. Also turning off the electricity to your water heater will help to save money on the heating in your absence.
* According to reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as of March 2010
