Fix a Leak Week: March 15-21
Did you know that household water leaks waste nearly one trillion gallons of water each year nationwide? And each year, the average household leaks nearly 10,000 gallons? That’s more than enough water to fill a school bus!
During Fix a Leak Week, make a plan to check for plumbing leaks in your home. Some easy-to-fix, common household leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves found inside and outside the home. For leak identification and repair tips, visit Fix a Leak Week or our partners at the Regional Water Providers Consortium.
How to check for leaks
Toilets are the most common source of leaks. Start there. All you need is food coloring! To check for toilet leaks:
Lift the toilet tank lid.
Drop several drops of food coloring or one dye tablet from your free toilet leak detection kit into the tank (do not flush).
Wait at least 10 minutes and check the bowl of the toilet. If there is dye in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
If you live in a home with your own water meter, you can use your meter to check for leaks, too!
Fixing your leaks
Many toilet leaks can be repaired with a few inexpensive parts and common tools. Learn to trouble shoot and fix a toilet leak. And if it’s a dripping faucet, we’ve got you covered there too. Learn to fix a leaking faucet.
Leak repairs? We can adjust your bill after you’ve fixed your leak
Sometimes leaks are big enough to cause a higher than normal bill. If that’s the case, after you’ve fixed the leak, make sure to contact us and ask about a leak adjustment. We may be able to adjust your bill back to what would be more typical for you.
FREE leak repair
We work with community partners and local plumbers to offer free water leak repair services for income-qualified homeowners in Portland. Through the program, we can fix leaking toilets, faucets, or underground water pipes. Sewer repairs are not eligible. Think you might qualify? Check out the water leak repair program application.
Leak detective kits for kids
Calling all junior leak detectives! Are you ready for your first assignment? The Regional Water Providers Consortium is giving away free Junior Leak Detective Kits for kids ages 5 to 10 this month! Join your kids in checking common culprits like showerheads, faucets, water heaters, and toilets for sneaky leaks using the items in the kit. Future Junior Leak Detectives and their grown-ups can participate by filling out the quick Junior Leak Detective Order Form.
Home water audit kits – FREE for Portland Water Bureau customers
Be a Leak Detective! All you need is a Home Water Audit Kit and 15 minutes. A Home Water Use Audit will help you understand where you can start saving the most water inside your home. This process is simple, and we give you all the supplies you need. It will help you find leaks, prioritize fixing them, and help you start saving water and money. Order your free kit today.
Home Water Audit Kits include:
Flow rate bag to measure shower and faucet flow rates
Toilet leak detection tablets
A drip gauge to measure leak rates
Instructions
Water conservation kits – FREE for Portland Water Bureau customers
Get a custom water conservation kit to help save water and money. Choose from a variety of simple to install water-saving devices for the fixtures in your home including efficient showerheads, aerators for bathroom and “classic” style kitchen faucets, 5-minute shower timers and more.
Order your kit today
By phone: 503-823-4527 or Online
Delivery time: Please allow three to six weeks from the time you place your order