It is truly amazing how loud a faucet drip is. We have all experienced lying awake in bed at night and hearing the distinct sound as a drop of water splashes down into the sink below. Then again, every 7 seconds thereafter. So, you finally get up and go into the bathroom and twist the faucet handle a little tighter in the off position. That will probably work the first few times you do it, then the handle can’t be tightened enough.
Drip, drip, drip.
Not only is this annoying, it is also costly. Let’s say that one faucet is leaking at a typical rate of 10 drops per minute. It could be wasting almost three gallons per day and nearly 400 gallons per year. A running toilet can waste almost 200 gallons a day. And you don’t even want to think about a water pipe that is leaking. A pipe leak the size of the tip of a pencil could lead to a loss of nearly 1,000 gallons of water in a 24-hour period. Outrageous water bill aside, just think of the damage caused if that pipe is in the floor or wall of your home.
It is always a good idea to conserve water whenever possible, especially during the hot summer weather that settles in for months here in the Montgomery and Auburn areas. It’s an even better idea to make sure your home’s pipes, fixtures and appliances are operating properly and not wasting water. Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air is committed to do its part to save water, and one of the ways we can do this is to help our customers make sure their plumbing systems are working the way they should be: efficiently, and without leaks and unnecessary waste. A good way to get started is to schedule a plumbing inspection with our professionally-licensed plumbing technicians. We will give your home’s plumbing system a thorough check-up, which includes inspection of:
- All interior and exterior water lines
- Pipes and drains
- All appliances that have water pumped into them, including your dishwasher, water heater and washing machine
- All kitchen and bathroom fixtures, including faucets, shower heads and toilets
Our pros will detect any leaks or any other issues which are causing water waste and repair them. Not only will this help you conserve water, but it will help reduce your water bill and prevent possible catastrophic water damage to your home.
In the meantime, here are a few handy water conservation tips:
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full; no partial loads.
- Don’t throw unused water down the drain; use it for plant watering.
- If you must water your lawn, do it in the early morning or evening and turn off your sprinkler system when it rains.
- Limit your time in the shower from 5 to 10 minutes, tops. Long showers waste an incredible amount of water.
Water conservation requires that we all do our part day-in, day-out. Help Dixie preserve and conserve this precious commodity. For more information or to schedule a home plumbing system inspection, call Dixie and it’s done!
