Translating…
The average homeowner is looking for any and all ways to save money these days. The mortgage is going to be the same, month after month, so that isn’t really a viable avenue. You can try to save on energy, but there are only so many lights you can turn off and so much insulation you can pack into the attic. For many, though, fixing something that has probably gone unnoticed for a long time could have sizable savings. The cornerstone of plumbing, the faucets in your home can waste a tremendous amount of water if you let them drip continuously for months on end. If you have one that you keep meaning to come around and fix, now is the time to do so.
Waste
Even faucets that are only leaking a modest amount (approximately a single drip per second) can waste 2,000 gallons of water every year. You can easily look at how much you’re paying for water each month to see how much extra this small problem is costing you where it counts. The next time you’re tempted to yell at your children for leaving the TV on when they leave the room, think about that dripping faucet and remember that you have no room to talk. Plumbing doesn’t get a lot of attention when it comes to saving money in a household, but it could be a good place to start.
Faucet Types
Most faucets are either going to be compression based or washerless in nature. Those that are compression based use a rubber washer set within a metal tubing to form a seal that water can’t penetrate. However, when that washer gets worn with age or begins to harden, the seal could easily break. Thus, the faucet begins to leak and you have a minor plumbing problem that could cost you major water waste. If you have a washerless faucet, the situation is a bit more complicated. Instead of washers, these faucets use several metal parts moving in conjunction to form the seal.
Repairing the Leak
Before you set about repairing the leak, you have to first determine the cause of the problem. If the job is no more complicated than replacing a washer, there’s no reason you can’t do it yourself. If it involves taking the faucet apart and examining each part to see where the damage lies, you may feel more comfortable leaving this plumbing repair to the professionals.