Restroom Leaks That Are Easy To Fix
If you want to help the environment by saving water and save yourself some money then you should consider inspecting all your bathroom fixtures for leaks. If they do leak then you’ll want to fix those leaks as quickly as possible. Fortunately, many minor repairs around the bathroom are relatively easy to tackle if you have a little patience and a few very basic tools.
You can really check your entire house for water leaks, but the bathroom is the easiest place to begin. The bathroom almost always has the most water outlets and is one of the most heavily used rooms in any home. Moisture has a tendency to dry out and wear on things a lot more than dry air, so it’s always a good idea to keep on top of any repairs in the bathroom before they get out of control. Here are some common leaks to look for and some basic ways you can fix them:
Dripping Sink Faucet: Sure, a little dripping from a sink faucet is annoying, but is it really a major waster of water? To find out you can put a cup under the dripping faucet and see how much water you collect in an hour and then multiply that amount by 24 hours. Chances are, you’ll be shocked by how much water you’re wasting. Most leaky faucets can be fixed by replacing the rubber washers in the handle mechanism or in the spout. Most faucets come with instructions on how to do this, though if you’re handy with a screwdriver and a wrench you should quickly be able to figure out how to replace the washers in your particular model.
Dripping or Leaking Shower/Tub Diverter: If you have a shower and tub combination in your bathroom then you probably have a shower diverter knob which allows you to divert the water from the tub faucet to the shower head. There are lots of different types of shower diverter valves and knobs, but they all essentially rely on a little rubber seal to block the water from the tub or shower faucet. These rubber seals can wear out and you’ll need to replace the entire shower diverter valve. Replacing that one piece will prevent water from running down the drain from your bathtub faucet when you’re taking a shower. This can lead to substantial water savings!
Constantly Running Toilet: A toilet that seems to run intermittently from time to time is almost definitely wasting a lot of water on a regular basis. The easiest, and most common, fix for a toilet that runs from time to time is to replace the toilet flapper. This repair takes a little bit of coordination and some understanding of how a toilet works, but it isn’t too complex and often doesn’t require any special tools.
All you need to fix these leaks is a little time and a minimal amount of tools. That being said, you should probably only attempt repairs you feel comfortable trying. Fixing some of these minor leaks in your bathroom will not conserve water for the environment, but also save you money in your water bill.
