How Much Do Leaky Water Fixtures Cost You?

Updated on July 30, 2020

The cost of a plumber depends on the severity of your leaks or damage. HomeAdvisor found that the average cost of a plumber for a regular job starts at $45 per hour, but it can reach hundreds of dollars depending on several factors.

You might be able to handle minor plumbing problems on your own with the tools you have at home. But if you’re unwilling to get a plumber to handle leaky water fixtures because of the costs of hiring one, here’s what you’re paying because of these leaks. From there, you may find that hiring a residential plumberis more practical than leaving your fixtures as is.

Leaky Faucets

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the average household may be responsible for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted annually, and your home may be one of the 10 percent that waste 90 gallons a day because of leaks. A leaky faucet dramatically contributes to this: if your faucet leaked at one drop every second, that accounts to 3,000 gallons per year or 250 gallons per month.

While not all leaky faucets leak out water this fast, it’s still a waste and can add up significantly. A small leak can cost youan additional $20 per year, while multiple and faster-dripping faucets can add up to $200 annually.

Showerheads

If your showerhead produced ten drips per minute, that equals to an additional 500 gallons per year or 41 gallons per month. According to the EPA, that’s the same amount of water you need to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher. While it’s much less than a leaky faucet, it’s an additional $10 up to $200 per year. That depends on the strength of the leaking.

Toilets

If your home was built after 1994, then your toilet uses no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. But if your toilet was manufactured before 1994, it may use more gallons than that. If you’re in an average home without a pool, flushing your toilet accounts for the highest water use, considering that the average American flushes the toilet five times a day.

With so much water used by your toilet, a leak or a damaged toilet can drive up the amount of water your home uses in a month. A running water toilet can waste thousands of gallons every month, which means an additional $70 to $200 on top of your average water bill.

Outdoor Water Fixtures

Frost, freezing, or the natural wear and tear of sprinklers and hose systems may have caused your outdoor fixtures to start leaking. While some people think it can be okay for an outdoor one to leak for a while because of the soil and plants that can absorb it, it’s not a good idea to let the leaks stay for a long time.

According to the EPA, even just a 1/32 of an inch leak can cost you 6,300 gallons of water every month. If left undetected or unrepaired, you could be adding another $70 to $200 on your monthly bill.

Overall, you may be adding around a hundred dollars a month if you leave your plumbing damaged and leaking. If you cannot handle the extent of repairs your water fixtures need, the solution would be to contact a professional plumber to manage them. It’s an added cost to your expenses, but it’s the more reasonable cost compared to the cost of wasted water.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.