Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings.

Learn more and find resources for fixing leaks.

• Turn off the water: Do not let the water run while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing dishes.
  
  
• Practice efficient shower and bath habits: Take five-minute showers, or if you prefer baths, fill the tub only one-third full.
  
  
• Only wash full loads: If you must wash with less than a full load, preset the water level for your specific load size.
  
  
• Thaw meat or other frozen foods in the fridge: Thawing frozen foods in the refrigerator conserves water and promotes both water conservation and food safety.

• Dispose of waste properly: Do not use the toilet as a trash can. Place tissues and other waste in the trash. Only toilet paper and bodily waste should be flushed.

• Install a water-saving aerator on faucets: If your bathroom or kitchen faucet flow rate is more than 1.5 gallons per minute, consider installing a WaterSense labeled aerator. Installing an aerator on your faucet reduces water usage by mixing air into the water stream, maintaining pressure while conserving water. WaterSense faucet aerators cost as little as $5 and can save you water and money with every use. Watch this short Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) video to see how simple it is to replace a faucet aerator.

• Install a WaterSense labeled toilet: Consider replacing your toilet with a WaterSense model that uses 1.28 gallons per flush or less. Toilets installed before 1994 use between 3.5 and 6 gallons per flush. Learn more.

• Replace your showerhead with a WaterSense model: Test to determine if your showerhead is wasting water. If it uses more than three gallons per minute, replace it with a WaterSense model.
  
  
• Consider a high efficiency front loader: When replacing your washing machine, switching to a high efficiency ENERGY STAR certified front loader could save you around 5,500 gallons of water per year, and save electricity, too!

Resources

• Use the EPA's ENERGY STAR Product Finder when purchasing new appliances.
  
  
• Look for the EPA’s WaterSense label when selecting plumbing fixtures to ensure water efficiency and performance. WaterSense-labeled products and services are certified to use at least 20 percent less water, save energy, and perform as well as or better than regular models.