Reduce Water Waste by Fixing These Common Bathroom Leaks

A single bathroom leak can waste thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year, even if the leak is minor. Furthermore, bathroom leaks mean standing water, which can lead to insect or mold infestation. If you want to reduce water waste and keep your family healthy, you can nip these three common bathroom leaks in the bud.

Bathtub Faucet

An older bathtub faucet can cause bathroom leaks in a number of different ways, the most common of which is water leaking continuously from the spigot. The culprit might be poor insulation, rusted washers, and stripped valve threads.

If you notice that your spigot is leaking on a regular basis, or if it takes longer than it should to shut off the water after running a shower or bath, turn off the water completely. Remove the faucet from the wall or bathtub itself, and examine the washers. Are they rusted? Or ill-fitting?

Local Plumbers suggests removing the washer and replacing it with a new one, then wrapping the valve threads with plumber's tape. In some cases, however, you might have to replace the entire faucet, especially if the previous suggestion doesn't fix the leak.

Bathroom Sink Pipes

We've had several problems with leaky pipes under our bathroom sink, and we've been able to repair each problem for under $10. The problem with bathroom sink pipes is that they are very fragile. They are easily tightened (and loosened) by hand, and the treads sometimes wear out, which will cause bathroom leaks.

If you notice water pooling under your bathroom sink, shut off the water main and unscrew the pipes. Check for corrosion inside the pipes as well as the gasket above (if it exists, you will need to run to the hardware store and replace those parts), then use channel locks to reconnect.

If the leak still persists, you can wrap the treads with plumber's tape and reconnect, or you can use plumber's putty to seal the connections. As a last resort, replace all the pipes (make sure you take the old ones to the store so you buy the correct product) for fresh connections.

Toilet Tank

If your toilet tank is causing bathroom leaks, faulty washers or loosened bolts are usually the source of the problem. Before you run out and call a plumber, turn off the water main and remove all the water from the toilet tank. Once dry, use a screwdriver to tighten the bolts on the base of the tank. There are usually two or three of these, and they can loosen over time.

You should also make sure the washers are still serviceable (if they are loose or if there is rust, replace them). Then put it all back together and check to ensure that the bolts are sufficiently tight.

The danger of this bathroom leak repair is that you can tighten the bolts too much, cracking the tank. Be careful and tighten in small increments.

Source:

Local Plumbers