Sure, it is easy to put off repairs in your home that do not feel like emergencies, however, your dripping faucet may be costing you more than you think. Not only are you wasting water, you may be creating environments in your home that can lead to costly damages.
How much a leaky faucet costs
If you have a leaky faucet, you’re literally pouring money down the drain. According to Nielsen, the costs of a leak can add up quickly. “Even the tiny leak in the above example can cost $15 to $20 a year,” he says. “A faster leak, like one that drips one time per second, could very easily cost a couple of hundred dollars a year.”
But there are also potential costs beyond paying for the drip water itself. A recent report from Chubb Insurance found that a small but steady drip can cause a large amount of damage. In fact, if left undetected, a small leak can turn into a larger structural or plumbing problem, spilling 2,520 gallons in a single day—or enough to fill 50 bathtubs. While no leak is the same, Chubb data found that the average water leak costs more than $55,000 for homeowners and the average water back-up loss for all homeowners was almost $45,000.
The environmental impact of a leaky faucet
Though it may seem extreme to think that a leaky faucet could have a major impact on the environment, fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce, so it’s important to start thinking about it in that context. A 2015 study published in the journal Water Resources Research used NASA data to examine the depleting fresh-water resources on earth and found that we’re using fresh water faster than it can be restored as groundwater.
“The annoying drip-drip sound and the drain on your wallet are not the only problems of a leaky faucet,” Nielsen says. “Fresh water is becoming harder and harder to come by as the Earth’s population grows. Also, global increase in prosperity is creating a demand for increasingly more goods and services, all of which require water. Humanity as a whole is going to have to get more resourceful when it comes to using our limited supply of fresh water.”
Humidity, Mold, and Other Issues
Another major factor to consider with leaky faucets is the amount of moisture they can add to your space. In a bathroom, a leaking faucet can contribute to out of control humidity. When humidity builds up in your space, you are creating an environment where mold and mildew can thrive. Once you have mold or mildew in your home, the price to get rid of it can be steep.
If your drip is not directly from your faucet, but in a pipe under a sink for instance, you are also looking at water damage to your space. This can lead to rotten wood and severe damage. At the first sign of a leak reach out to a professional plumbing company to restore your space and avoid future damages.
Leaky Sink Repair in Houston
AAA Select Plumbing is here to help home and business owners get the most out of their plumbing. From simple plumbing repairs to full-blown plumbing remodels, our team of dedicated plumbing professionals is here to help you find the best plumbing solutions for your unique space. We proudly serve the Greater Houston area.
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