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You’ve experienced that moment when you’re at home minding your business when all of a sudden you hear it…drip…drip…drip. It’s coming from your kitchen sink faucet. Has that water been dripping this entire time, and how have you not noticed? Why is that the only thing you can hear now? Your faucet is dripping and even when you turn the knob, it makes no difference.
And we can’t forget about the good ole’ showerhead. We all love a steaming hot shower, especially in the middle of a cold winter. Some of us love a long hot shower, too, but with efforts to conserve more water in recent years, we’re all doing our part by cutting our water usage. So, what happens when your showerhead starts to leak? Now, you’re only getting a trickle of warm water which throws your shower game off.
NIR Plumbing doesn’t only offer air conditioning and heating services; from new plumbing to repairing old plumbing systems, our team handles leaks and repairs such as the infamous two mentioned above. With years of experience, NIR Plumbing can provide customized and preventative repairs like water leak services to residents in the Riverside area.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
To Ignore The Leak, Or To Not Ignore The Leak
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With the faucet and showerhead, you can simply try to ignore the leaky problem…it’s a time-tested tactic. But, the fact is that you never want to ignore leaking water. Not only is the sound of leaking water a nuisance, but it can also add significantly to your water bill and can lead to much larger plumbing problems.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says: “The average household’s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry.” There’s no denying that that’s a lot of water. The U.S EPA also adds, “Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.” It’s supported that if a homeowner fixes an easily-corrected water leak instead of simply ignoring it, they can save about 10 percent on their water bills.”
With these facts in mind, let’s look at some causes of a leaky faucet. We’ve already highlighted the infamous sink faucet drip and trickling showerhead, so let’s dive straight into those…pun intended![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Why The Leak
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There are a variety of factors that can lead to your faucets spitting out water like lukewarm coffee.
Let’s consider the showerhead leak. There could be a problem with the O ring, that small disc that’s attached to a stem screw (that’s the thing that holds your faucet in place). The O ring can become loose and wear out from common usage which could lead to a leak near the handle of the faucet.
If your O ring is in top-notch condition then you might want to check the valves. The supply valves supply the water to your shower. If they are not securely attached or if they are rusted or damaged, that could lead to a leak. The leak could also be coming from worn-out seals. With normal usage, sediment can accumulate inside the faucet causing the inlet and outlet seals to wear out.
Double-check where your showerhead is attached. If it looks deteriorated or broken, we may have found the cause of the issue. If this is not the case then you should check the rubber washer inside your shower head. This washer regulates the water flow, but after so many showers, it does inevitably deteriorate.
You may also want to check the build-up around your shower head. With water comes many different minerals. Over time, these minerals can create a build-up that could cause your showerhead to not function properly. A home remedy is to remove your showerhead and soak it in white vinegar for a few hours. While you’re checking for build-up, you can also check your showerhead for any holes it may have. If you find a rust spot or hole, you will want to replace that part of the showerhead. An employee at a local home improvement store should be able o assist with the exact part you need to be replaced.
Let’s consider the toilet leak. If your toilet is leaking, the cause is often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, minerals build up and this inexpensive rubber part decays. It’s usually best to replace the whole rubber flapper. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time.
If the average household replaces the older, inefficient toilets with new ones, they could save 13,000 gallons of water per year. Retrofitting the house could save the family nearly $2,400 in water and wastewater bills over the lifetime of the toilets. Do you know what that means? That’s an extra $2,400 that could be used on other necessary plumbing ventures (Yay!).
When it comes to outdoor leaks, an irrigation system that has a leak that’s just 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month! We’re no mathematicians, but we understand that’s a lot of wasted water.
You should also check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Finding The Perfect Solution For A ‘Rainy’ Day
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The options listed above are just a few options on how to diagnose leaks from around your home. Some people simply don’t feel equipped to diagnose a leak, or simply don’t have the desire to. Regardless of the reason, NIR plumbing has the desire to diagnose a leak and we’re perfectly equipped and trained to do so!
Not only do we offer free estimates so you’re aware of what it’ll take to get stop the spill, so to speak, but we also offer our emergency plumbing services 24 hours a day, so if that leak creeps up on you in the middle of the night and turns from a small leak to a larger and unexpected plumbing disaster, the NIR team can get rid of it!
We’re always here to help with either diagnosing the problem and fixing it. If you’re looking for water leak services in Riverside and the Inland Empire because you just don’t know what to do with that leaky faucet, contact us at NIR plumbing![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
