I think we’ve all experienced a nagging faucet leak. While it doesn’t sound like much over time, it could cause a small dent in your water usage and an increase in your monthly water bill. I think most Americans are a little water conscious, so when they encounter a nagging leaky faucet, they want it fixed. The reality is if a leak goes unchecked, it could cost a homeowner anywhere between $20 to $200 annually. In other words, you could buy a new faucet with the money you saved by fixing the leaky one. Here is something to think about, if a faucet drips once every second, you will waste five gallons of water a day or 2,082 gallons a year. Water leaks are such a big waste that our government went to great lengths to set up a drip calculator so homeowners could calculate their water waste.
There Are Four Possible Nagging Bathroom Leaks
Bathroom leaks may include more than just a leaky faucet. For instance, four fundamental areas are capable of sprouting a leak:
- showerhead
- bathroom faucets
- toilet and the toilet supply lines
- shut off valves
If the supply line is being replaced, it would be advisable to replace them all. If you’re remodeling your bathroom and your home is older than 40 years old, it’s recommended that the pipes also be replaced. Your nagging faucet leak is either a worn seal, worn O-ring, loose parts, or corrosion of a valve seat. For any of them to wear down, chances are your faucet is very old. While the seal can be replaced, purchasing a new bathroom faucet is your best bet unless your current one is a very high-end faucet.
Supply Lines And Shut Off Valves Can Leak
Supply lines and shut off valves can also start to leak. If one does begin to leak, it’s a good idea to replace them all. If you’re not the do-it-yourselfer, then have your plumbing contractor come in and change them all at once. Ask ahead of time what they will charge for the parts. The cost of the valve and supply line is around $15 at your local home center, and like everything else, you can also purchase them online.
When Our Toilets Leak, It’s Usually The Flapper
When our toilets leak, it’s usually the toilet flapper. This is a simple job and could save you from a service call. A toilet flapper can cost $5 to $10 at your home center and a complete toilet repair kit can cost less than $20. Toilets are notorious for wasting water. You can complete a leak test by putting a few drops of food coloring in your tank, and let sit for some time. If the coloring shows up in your toilet bowl then you have a leaking toilet.
A Nagging Shower Head Leak
Lastly, a leaking shower head repair could be something as small as adding or replacing the Teflon tape to a new valve rebuild. On the contrary, a valve rebuild sounds pretty intense. A better than average do-it-yourselfer can complete a shower valve rebuild but for the most part, it should be performed by a plumbing professional.
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