A small leak may not seem like a big deal, but those drips add up, wasting nearly one trillion gallons of water across the U.S. each year according to the EPA. That’s water and money going down the drain, increasing your utility bills while depleting a precious, natural resource. Leaks can also lead to water damage, taking a toll on your wallet. The good news? Fixing leaks is easier than you think, and even small changes can make a big impact.
Each year in March, the EPA hosts Fix a Leak Week to encourage homeowners to find and fix leaks in their homes. This initiative raises awareness about the staggering amount of water that’s wasted due to small, undetected leaks and provides practical steps for identifying and addressing them. By taking the time to check for leaks and upgrading to Kohler® WaterSense® -certified products, homeowners can significantly reduce water waste, lower their utility bills and contribute to a more sustainable future.
According to the EPA, common types of leaks are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. Finding leaks is the hardest part of fixing them, but here are three ways to check for them:
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
- Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
- Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside for evidence of surface leaks (EPA, n.d.).
Water Savings at Home
If you find a leak at home, or you are looking to make some upgrades, consider selecting WaterSense-certified products. These products are 20%+ more water-efficient than traditional products and are tested on functionality. This certification can give you confidence in saving water without sacrificing the overall performance of the product.
Take Kohler’s Simplice faucet, for example. It’s sleek and modern in design, has superior performance and is water-use efficient with a flow rate of one gallon per minute.
Have an aging toilet? Consider replacing it with a Kohler Highline toilet. Using just one gallon per flush, you can save almost 57,000 gallons of water and over $700 in water utilities over the lifetime of the toilet (EPA, Purchasing Managers’ Index).
To extend the impact within your bathroom, look at your current showerhead. Switching from a 2.5-gallons-per-minute showerhead to a 1.5-gallons-per-minute showerhead, like Kohler’s Statement VES, can save over 58,000 gallons of water over 10 years.
Taking Action
At Kohler, water is at the heart of everything they do. It sustains life, supports communities and powers livelihoods, and Kohler believes protecting it is a responsibility we all share. That’s why they design products that make conservation effortless, helping you save water without sacrificing performance or style. By teaming up on initiatives like WaterSense and partnering with The Home Depot, Kohler is spreading the word about how easy it is to make a difference.
Whether you’re fixing a leaky faucet or upgrading to water-saving products, know that you’re reducing your impact on the planet…and on your wallet. Let’s keep working together to make our homes and world a better place.
Meet Kohler Co.
For more than 150 years, Kohler has been dedicated to creating thoughtfully designed products that enhance daily life. Water is at the heart of what we do, and we believe everyone should have access to clean, efficient water solutions, now and for generations to come. That’s why we design with sustainability in mind, embedding water-saving innovations into our products so you can enjoy beautiful, high-performing solutions without extra effort. When sustainability is built in, it’s one less thing for you to think about. To learn more, visit our website.
