There has been an increasing need for general conservation over the past several years in the United States. More specific is the need for homeowners to minimize utility costs by decreasing their energy and water consumption. Many homeowners unknowingly pay too much on their water bill due to hidden leaks and a lack of maintenance. Here are several ways to identify leaks, protect your home from water damage, and decrease your water bill.

Identifying Sources of Water Waste

Most Americans believe their home is free of leaks if they don’t actually see them; in truth the average household can have water leaks that account for over 10,000 gallons of water lost every year. A leaky sink or showerhead that drips a measly 10 drops of water per minute can end up wasting over 500 gallons of water per year alone. Replacing these leaking fixtures is the most direct way of cutting down on leaks, but most of the leaks occur in a home’s water or sewer lines. If a sewer is older than 40 years old, it is likely that it may need pipe replacement to stop leaks.

Sewer Repair Options

Before considering pipe replacement, many homeowners have a professional perform a pipe inspection to understand the state of the sewer line and determine the proper course of repair. Traditional sewer repair requires excavation, which can damage yards resulting in hefty landscape repair fees. Nearly 78% of consumers are unaware that there are trenchless pipe repair alternatives. These methods typically cost more than traditional repair but leave yards intact as they only require a small hole; the old pipe is used as a lateral guide to install the new pipe. Two of the most common include pipe bursting, which installs a new line while simultaneously destroying the existing sewer line, and cured-in-place piping (CIPP), which relines existing sewer lines with a water-tight resin seal that can add an average of 50 years to a sewer line. Schedule an inspection with a local plumber or sewer replacement specialist to see if you’re home is wasting water.