March 18-24, 2024

Fix a Leak Week is a great opportunity to fix what you may have been putting off or go out in search of that suspected leak you've been wondering about. Nearly one trillion gallons of water are wasted in U.S. homes each year from easy-to-fix leaks. Learn more below or check out these money saving tips from your neighborhood Ace Hardware and Lowe's before you head to the store for supplies.

In the average home, household leaks waste more than 10,000 gallons of water each year. That’s the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry! Here’s how to identify leaks around your home:

• Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
• Winter months are the prime time to check water use and see if you may have a leak. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month in the winter, you probably have leaks!

Here’s how you can address leaks found at home:

• Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers and other fixtures. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if it appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
• Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save more water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom faucet, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
• Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.
• Check Your Meter. This guide on How to Read Your Water Meter can help you detect when and where leaks may be occurring in and around your home.

As a WaterSense partner concerned with preserving our nation’s water supply, we are committed to helping our residents find and fix leaks in and around your home.

Get Involved

• Take the WaterSense pledge
• “Like” WaterSense on Facebook and follow WaterSense on Twitter for the latest tips and events
• Visit the WaterSense website to learn more

Spencer the Husky's Guide to Outdoor Water Leaks illustrates one of the ways water loss can occur in your outdoor space.