Save water, save money

Want to save a little green for both your wallet and the environment? Take a look around your house! A simple fix, like a leaking faucet or a running toilet, can save water and lower your bill for water use.

Look for leaks

A dripping faucet isn’t just wasting you water – it’s draining the money right out of your pocket! This is an easy fix, and only takes a few parts from the hardware store and about an hour of time.

If you notice a leaky faucet in your bathroom or kitchen, start by shutting off the water to the faucet and then run out any water that’s left in the pipes. Once the water has flushed away, plug the drain in the sink – faucets have a lot of small pieces and you don't want to lose one down the drain!

Use a screwdriver to take off faucet handles, and inspect the washer that was behind the handle. The washers, which can degrade over time or rust, are the usual suspect in faucet leaks. Once you've removed the washer, take it to the hardware store and find a suitable replacement.

When you get home, put the new washer where the old one was, and replace the handle. Use the screwdriver to tighten the handle and turn the water back on to the faucet. Finally, turn the water on and inspect your set up for leaks. If everything has gone according to plan, your faucet should be water tight!

Fix a running toilet

You flush the toilet, only to come back hours later and find it still running. Don't call a plumber, just look inside and fix it yourself! You need to catch the toilet in the act to see if it's running. Take off the lid and have a look. One of the first things you’ll see – and the most likely culprit of a running toilet – is the flapper, the large rubber plug that keeps the water in your toilet bowl.

The flapper works in tandem with the lever and chain – the pieces that cause the flapper to rise and fall when the toilet handle is flushed. Inspect this entire system first. Is the chain caught on something or tangled? Is the flapper properly aligned or is starting to degrade and fall apart?

In a lot of cases, a few minor adjustments are enough to get it back to proper working order. You ought to be able to adjust the angle or shape of the lever easily, or shorten the chain with needle nose pliers. You can even purchase replacement parts at a local hardware store, and replace it yourself.

Or hire a plumber

Of course, if any of these simple repairs don’t solve your leaky faucets or running toilets – or if you don’t feel comfortable making the repairs yourself – consider hiring a plumber to make them for you. Although it’s more expensive in the short-term, you’ll save much more over the long-run in the form of a smaller water bill.