April is Water Conservation Month and a great time to improve your home without incurring the high cost of remodeling.
Each week the Southwest Florida Water Management District is providing a few simple water conservation tips that the average resident can use. This week the focus is on checking for leaks and retrofitting your fixtures.
Leak Detection
A dripping sink faucet can waste up to 30 gallons of water per day and a leaky toilet can waste up to 100 gallons of water per day.
Dripping sink faucets can be repaired by replacing the seat, packing or bonnet washers or tightening the fixture. A variety of repair kits can be found in local home improvement and hardware stores. Most kits contain detailed instructions and a listing of necessary tools, or a plumber can make the repairs.
Most leaks that occur inside the home are caused by leaky flapper valves in toilets. Toilet leaks can be detected by adding leak detector tablets or a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If the tank is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 10-15 minutes. Flush the toilet after testing. Visit www.toiletflapper.org for help in selecting the proper flapper for your toilet. If the leak is not caused by the flapper, you will need a large adjustable wrench and a screwdriver to fix the leak yourself, or call a plumber.
If you think you may have a leak and are not sure where it is, use your water meter to determine if there is a leak. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances. Remember to wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill, and for regeneration of water softeners. Check your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes, making sure no one uses water during the testing period, then read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.
If you have a well, listen for the pump to kick on and off while the water is not in use.
If it turns on, you have a leak.
If you cannot find the leak using these tips, you should consult a plumber.
In addition to checking for leaks, installing low-flow faucets, toilets and other water-saving devices in your kitchen and bathroom is another way to conserve water and save money.
Low-flow toilets and showerheads
An older toilet model can use three gallons or more per flush, while a new low-flow model uses just 1.6 gallons per flush or less.
An older showerhead can use as much as eight gallons per minute, while a new low-flow model uses just 2.5 gallons per minute or less. You can cut your use by up to 50 percent when you install a low-flow showerhead. Pressure on low-flow showerheads has been adjusted to deliver showers that are comparable to higher flow showerheads.
Some communities offer incentives or rebates for installing low-flow fixtures. Here are the contact numbers for the rebate programs in the following cities and counties:
Citrus County: 352-527-7650
Charlotte County: 941-764-4520
Hernando County: 352-540-4368, ext. 35139
Lakeland: 863-834-6295
Manatee County: 888-843-9832
North Port: 888-843-9832
Pasco County: 727-847-8145, ext. 7825
Pinellas County: 727-725-2604
St. Petersburg: 727-894-2044
Winter Haven: 863-298-5470
Instant hot water devices
There are a variety of instant hot water recirculating devices and tankless water heaters that will give you hot water the moment you turn on the faucet. These devices conserve water because you don’t have to run the water while it warms up.
Instant hot water recirculating devices can cost between $189 to $250 and are usually installed under the sink of the faucet furthest from the hot water heater. No additional plumbing is required.
Tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters can cost between $500 and $1,300. Tankless water heaters conserve resources because they heat water on demand. Compared to traditional tank water heaters, tankless water heaters produce an endless supply of hot water at up to 40 percent energy savings and reduce the risk of flooding.
To learn more about water conservation and the drought, or to schedule a speaker, please visit the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org/drought/.