- 10 September, 2005 -

With fall and winter upon us, it's time to check all areas of the home that could be susceptible to damage in the cold weather. Frozen pipes can create major problems, but leaky pipes that freeze are even worse! Running a check before the severe cold sets in can save you major dollars in damage. A pin-sized hole in a water pipe under 40 pounds of pressure loses over 2,000 gallons of water a day or as much water in a week as what's normally used in a household of four. This tiny hole can increase your water bill over 1,000 percent! There are dozens of other places where leaks can lurk, but there usually are telltale signs. American Leak Detection, a Palm Springs based franchiser, and its more than 270 "Leak Busters" nationwide, offer the following clues that are a sign that you have a leak: * Running toilets and dripping faucets. * Unusually high water bills. * Musty odors coming from floors, or walls near drains, or sewers. * Spongy, soft, or discolored walls. * The sound of running water when nothing is turned on. * A water meter reading that changes when you aren't using any water for an hour. * A cracked, or unusually damp foundation or slab. * Warm spots on concrete slab floors, mildew, or excessive moisture under carpets. * Chronic sewer backup problems. * Areas in the yard that are unusually wet or moist, often with very healthy, or unusual plant, or grass growth. Warning signs of hidden leaks in pools and spas * Loss of 1/8 inch of water or more in 24 hours. It might be evaporation, but a professional should investigate consistent losses of this magnitude. * Algae formation too soon after a chemical treatment. * Loose or falling tiles or pool deck cracks. * An automatic filler that is constantly releasing water. * Cracks and gaps in the pool shell, or concrete deck, or a settling of the whole pool or spa structure into the ground. Another important issue year round is to save on your water bill. American Leak Detection experts have see it all. Here are their tips on: 10 ways to save water Seventy percent of the earth's surface is covered in water, but only one percent is drinkable. Supplies of fresh water in the U.S. are being gradually diminished by population growth, pollution of lakes and streams and over-pumping and contamination of goundwater sources. Here's what you can do to help. 1) Turn the water off while you brush your teeth; you'll save 3 gallons per brush. 2) Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. This will save 75 to 200 gallons per week and it will cut down your energy costs as well. 3) Use the water-saver control on your dishwasher, if you have one and avoid the pot scrubbing cycle, or dual wash unless it's really necessary. 4) Take showers, not baths and keep them relatively short. It takes 30 to 40 gallons of water to fill a bathtub and 5 to 10 gallons of water per minute to take a shower. 5) Install a flow restrictor in the shower to maximize your savings. A water-saving showerhead can cut water use in the shower by half. 6) Keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator for drinking so you don't have to run the tap until the water gets cold. This saves 200 to 300 gallons per week. 7) Replace older 3.5-gallon toilets with newer 1.6-gallon models. 8) If you're stuck with an older toilet (anything purchased before the mid-1990s), buy a toilet water-saving device at the hardware store, or install a plastic water bottle weighted down with pebbles in the tank. No bricks, please _ they can dissolve and cause clogging problems. 9) Water lawns only at night to minimize evaporation and always use a nozzle on your hose. 10) Cover your swimming pool when it's not in use to prevent excess evaporation. For information on an American Leak Detection "Leakbuster" in your area, call 1-800-755-6697.

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