Secrets from Your Water Bill
Did you know that you have a powerful tool in your mailbox for finding out if you have plumbing issues? Your water bill can tell you a lot more than how much you need to spend each month on this utility. In fact, if you use it correctly, you can find out about hidden leaks before they cause severe home damage.
What You Can Learn from a Water Bill
Water leaks are a serious cause of waste, both of drinking water and money. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 10% of homes across the country have water leaks that cause a loss of 90 gallons of water daily, or more. The average home can leak up to 10,000 gallons of water annually. Unfortunately, leaks are not always visible.
Most of the plumbing in your home is hidden inside walls or under the floors. Therefore, you have to get creative to find leaks in your home. One way to do this is with your water bill.
Look over your bill for sudden spikes in monthly usage. Such a sharp rise could indicate a new leak. Another way to use your water bill is to look at the total use. If you have a family of four and the water bill indicates more than 12,000 gallons of water use a month, you likely have at least one serious leak in your home.
How to Find Leaks with Your Water Meter
If you suspect a leak, another way to verify the problem is with your water meter. First, shut off all faucets and water-using appliances. Also, cut off water flow to your water heater at the incoming valve. Then go to the water meter. If it still shows water flow after you’ve shut off the supply, you have a leak somewhere, and you need to contact a plumber.
What to Do If You Think You Have a Water Leak
Fixing water leaks is not something for the average homeowner to do. First, the leaks are difficult to find. Plus, they present problems getting to. Therefore, the best solution is to contact a plumber. Depending on the source of the leak, you may require services such as slab leak detection and repair or repiping. The plumber will provide a complete assessment of the issue and let you know what needs to be done to repair the leaks in your home.
Contact Best Service Plumber for Plumbing Repairs of Water Leaks and More
If your water bill leads you to suspect leaks in your home, contact us at Best Service Plumber for professional plumbing help in Southern California. We also have a phone line available 24 hours a day for both regular service and emergency calls 951-338-8403. Let us help you to save money on your utilities and prevent water damage by repairing water leaks in your home.
Sources
https://bestserviceplumber.com/
https://bestserviceplumber.com/contact/
https://bestserviceplumber.com/slab-leak-detection-and-repair/
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week
How Bad Can Showerhead Leaks Be?
After you shut off the shower, the water should stop flowing. However, showerhead leaks can occur, causing annoying dripping that lasts long after you leave the shower. There are some DIY tricks to use to possibly fix this issue. However, in many situations, you may need a plumber. However you get the leaks fixed, though, will be a good investment that will repay you in saving on your water bills.
How Much Water Do Showerhead Leaks Cost?
Showerhead leaks can cost you much more than you may think. In fact, with the amount of water lost annually, 500 gallons, from a leaky showerhead, you could wash 60 loads of dishes in a dishwasher. Therefore, fixing this leak will save you money on your water bills. Plus, you can reduce the freshwater your home uses.
DIY Solutions for Showerhead Leaks
There are a couple of ways that you could address your shower head leaks. For instance, some leaks start between the pipe and showerhead. For these types of leaks, remove the shower head and place Teflon tape around the pipe. Also, replace the showerhead’s washer, if needed. The Teflon tape will provide a tighter fit between the pipe and showerhead and stop some types of leaks.
When to Call a Plumber for Shower head Leaks
If your showerhead continues to leak after making the DIY repair, contact a professionally licensed plumber. You may have a problem with the showerhead itself or one of the valves that control the water flow to the shower. They can assess the shower and fix the cause of the leak, saving you money on your water bills.
Trust Best Service Plumber to Fix Leaks and Conduct Other Residential Plumbing Services
If you have showerhead leaks that you cannot resolve with Teflon tape, contact us at Best Service Plumber online or by phone at 951-338-8403. We provide leak repair and many other residential plumbing services to Southern California residents. Our professionals will come to your home and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Trust us whenever you need a licensed plumber for a repair in your home.
Sources
https://bestserviceplumber.com/
https://bestserviceplumber.com/residential-plumbing-services/
https://bestserviceplumber.com/contact/
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week
Reduce Summer Water Use
During the summer, hot weather contributes to extra water use. You may take more showers to wash off after exercising in the heat. Or you might use more water to keep your garden growing. Saving water is important throughout the year, but especially when you increase use in the summer. The hidden sources of wasted water could cost you hundreds of dollars in water bills. Finding and reducing these problems can help you to cut your summer water use.
How Much Water Do You Use Over the Summer?
Water use varies based on where you live. For instance, in California, estimates put domestic water use between 101 and 125 gallons per person per day. Whereas, in Virginia, the use is between 0 and 75 gallons per person per day.
In the summer, the amount of water used can increase as people water gardens and fill pools. Reducing how much water you and your family use can cut down on your utility bills while helping to lower the demand on the limited amount of freshwater available.
Ways to Cut Back on Water Use Inside the Home
Before choosing to upgrade your appliance to water-efficient models – which you should do – have a plumber check your system for leaks. In fact, leaks can account for 12% of your home’s indoor water use. Running toilets and leaking pipes are two major offenders. If you hear water dripping around your home or your toilet running long after the tank has refilled, call us at Best Service Plumber for repairs.
Installing water-reducing fixtures such as low-flow toilets and showers can also cut down on the amount of water you use. Even if you have an efficient showerhead, cut down on the time you spend in the shower to stop wasting water.
One surprising way to cut down on water is by using the dishwasher. Today’s WaterSense-labeled products only use three gallons of water compared to 27 gallons used for handwashing a load of dishes.
Outdoor Water Use Reduction Techniques
During the summer, you may use anywhere between 30% and 70% of your water outside. Having a garden, lawn, or pool can increase your outdoor water use. Unfortunately, half the water you spray outside for irrigation, cleaning, or filling a pool evaporates or runs off into the sewer system. Some minor changes in your outdoor watering can reduce how much water your home needs.
To avoid the problems caused by evaporation, cover your pool when you don’t use it. Plus, only water your garden or lawn during the early morning or evening before the sun rises high to more quickly evaporate water.
The best way to cut down on needing to water your yard is through xeriscaping. This technique landscapes your home with plants that thrive in low-water conditions. Replacing turf grass with drought-tolerant plants can drastically cut your water bills and keep your yard looking great all year.
Call Best Service Plumber to Repair Water-Wasting Leaks
Leaks in your plumbing system or running toilets can contribute significantly to wasted water. Call Best Service Plumber to fix these problems and reduce your water use all year long. Reach us at 951-520-8557 if you want us to come to check out your plumbing system for leaks or to make repairs.
Be Water Wise: How to Reduce Your Water Use Around the House
It seems that California has droughts plaguing it regularly. Even when there aren’t drought conditions that require you to cut back on your water use, you can still be water wise. Using less water cuts down on your utility bills. It also can help the rest of those in the area by ensuring that everyone has enough of the limited water supply for their needs. The best part about these water wise tips is how little you have to change your lifestyle to integrate them.
Cut Back on Total Water Use
The total amount of water you use is most likely more than you need. You have several means to cut back on water use. Installing low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads reduces the amount of water you use in your bathroom, without requiring you to shorten showers or skip flushing.
When washing clothes, choose the smallest water load possible, or fill the washing machine with more clothes to reduce the number of washes you do each week.
In the garden, water your plants individually with a watering can. You won’t overwater the plants, ensuring that they stay healthier and you use less water than indiscriminately using a sprinkler in your yard.
If you suspect leaking pipes in your home, have the leaks detected and repaired as soon as possible. The longer you let the leak happen, the more water your home wastes and the more money you will spend on your water bill.
Use Gray Water and Rainwater
Let Mother Nature provide some of your water. For watering your garden, capture and reuse rainwater in a rain barrel. These containers have a special design to keep insects and wildlife out while holding the water until you need it for your yard.
Gray water is the name for water that typically goes down the drain. It is not drinkable, but you can use it for watering your yard. Examples of gray water include the water you use to rinse fresh produce or the water that goes down the drain while you wait for hot water.
Let Us Help
For some of these water reduction tips, you will need the help of an expert. Let us know at Best Service Plumber – a Plumbing Concepts Company in Southern California, CA – how we can help. Our plumbers can repair leaks and install water-efficient fixtures in addition to our other residential plumbing services. You’re not alone in your quest to reduce your water use. Our plumbers are in your corner to help you with this endeavor.