According to the U.S. EPA, the average American home leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water per year – enough water to wash 280 loads of laundry, take more than 600 showers or meet the average family’s water needs for a month. There’s no better time than now to find and fix home water leaks, which could save you nearly 10 percent on your utility bills.
4. In the yard
There are two places to check for leaks in your yard: the garden hose and sprinkler system.
Inspect your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, make sure the hose is screwed in tight. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the nylon or rubber hose washer, then wrap the spigot in pipe tape and tighten it with a wrench.
Check your sprinkler system before turning it back on in the spring, to make sure the system wasn’t damaged during the winter by frost or freezing.
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