The Real Cost of Plumbing Leaks

Plumbers know a few tell-tale signs that almost always indicate a leak.

Did you know that household leaks in the United States waste more than one trillion gallons of water a year? That’s a lot of water!

Plumbers nationwide help homeowners across the country locate and resolve plumbing leaks, both large and small. However, even a slow dripping leak can equate to hundreds of gallons of lost water a year. Here’s what homeowners should know about how much water leaks cost and what they can do about them.

The leak is more significant than expected

The EPA says that more than 10% of homes have water leaks that waste more than 90 gallons of water per day. In most parts of the country, a gallon of water costs anywhere from one to two cents. While that may not seem like much, at over $1 a day, water leaks can add up to several hundreds of dollars a year in wasted water expenses.

The USGS has a water drip calculator designed to help homeowners understand precisely how much water a simple dripping faucet in a home wastes.

Common leak sources

Leaks can happen anywhere there is plumbing. However, some of the most common sources of leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, pipe connections, and plumbing valves. 

Sometimes leaks are easy to detect, like those that occur underneath the kitchen sink and result in a noticeable puddle of water. Other times, though, leaks happen within interior walls or even outside a home within the soil. Unfortunately, any water leak on the property (i.e., before the city’s water main, which usually starts at the street) is the property owner’s responsibility.

Signs there may be a leak

Plumbers know a few tell-tale signs that almost always indicate a leak. Here are a handful of symptoms homeowners shouldn’t ignore:

• Rapidly escalating water bill, or a bill that is noticeably higher than the same period last year or month

• Audible sound of dripping water

• Running toilets (to tell if a toilet is leaking, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows up in the bowl, there is a leak)

What to do if there is a leak

If a homeowner suspects a plumbing leak, calling a local plumbing professional is always a good idea. They have the necessary tools to detect exactly where a leak is coming from, then apply the proper fix. Although it’s entirely possible to DIY a leaking pipe, most are better off having a proper inspection to ensure no more significant issues are at play. Don’t let a leaky faucet become a large-scale restoration effort when more serious plumbing issues go undetected.

If you need honest and experienced professional plumbing services for residential and afford commercial plumbing needs in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Enterprise give us a call at 702-766-3320.