Rectangular diagram on the left side depicts a brown, yellow, orange and blue graphic of a house cut in half: below the roof and yellow apex is a view of 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with 3 red exclamation points placed over the shower head, the toilet and the sink; below that is a view of a den and a kitchen with appliances, over the sink appears a red exclamation point. Outside is a blue field for sky and blue-green field for grass and brown field for dirt. A graphic of a tree growing out of the ground next to the house is behind a white picket fence extending outward from the house. On the right side of house is an outside faucet with red exclamation point and in the ground underneath is a big grey pipe and a slender dark blue pipe also with a red exclamation point. On the right side of the diagram are the words Did you know? in big bolded black font and below that in smaller regular font are the words The average household wastes 10,000 gallons per year on leaks. That's about $100 per year in water bills. Below that are 6 white circles each depicting a graphic motif using blue font: a shower head with 3 water drops, a toilet with water level wavy water line, a faucet with a water droplet, a hook shaped faucet with a water droplet, an outdoor faucet with a water droplet, and cracked pipe with a big water drop; in the diagram lower left corner is the Charlotte Water logo in black font
Drought & Conservation, General

Save Money, Save Water

Fixing at home leaks can be quick, cheap, and easy.

Taking a few minutes to fix small leaks in your home can prevent costly water bills. Household leaks can waste almost one trillion gallons of water per year nationwide. Some common household leaks are dripping faucets, worn toilet flappers, leaking valves, and irrigation systems. You can fix many of these leaks without having to call a professional. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors Fix a Leak Week annually to encourage leak detection and water conservation. Here are a few of the EPA’s leak repair tips:

Faucet Leaks

Your dripping faucet could be wasting more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. Check out this drip calculator from the AWWA to see how much water you could be wasting at home!

Once you know which part of your faucet is leaking (spout, base, etc.) you can purchase a single replacement piece or a faucet repair kit. Video tutorials like this one can take you from DIY to drip-stopping pro in under three minutes!

To ensure you purchase the right kit or replacement part, it’s best to research your current faucet or disassemble your faucet and take the pieces that need replacement with you. Once you have the necessary replacement parts, simply swap them out and test the faucet for leaks.

Toilet Leaks

A worn-out toilet flapper can silently waste thousands of gallons of water per year. Toilet leaks can be some of the sneakiest leaks in a home. Luckily, replacing a toilet flapper only takes a few minutes and the parts are inexpensive. The easiest way to figure out if your toilet is leaking is to perform a dye test.

Make sure to carefully examine your old flapper before tossing it to ensure you buy the correct replacement. This simple swap can prevent you from flushing hundreds of dollars down the drain.

Outdoor Leaks

In-ground irrigation systems, hose connections, and pools can also be sources of leaks that can skyrocket your water bill. It’s important to monitor your water bill when you water your lawn or during pool season to ensure you’re not missing a leak. Here are some outdoor leak detection tips:

  • Check your irrigation system for damage from freezing temps before you use it each spring.
  • Check your irrigation system for faulty sprinkler heads.
  • Check your hose connections regularly for pooling water or drips between uses.
  • Consult a professional if you suspect a pool leak.

If you need assistance fixing a leak, please contact a professional. If you receive a high bill and are unsure of what to do next, check out this video for next steps.

Charlotte Water can assist you with your outstanding balance from a high bill after your leak is repaired. To get help with your outstanding balance, please dial 311 or 704-336-7600.