Water is one of our most precious resources but it’s frightening how
much of it, is literally wasted due to leaky taps.
In millions of Australian households and businesses, leaky taps are literally flushing water
down the drain. As the world’s driest inhabited continent, we can’t afford to be wasting a
single drop.
So, how much water is wasted?
A typical leaking tap, leaks 10 drips of water a minute. After a day it will add up to 14,400
drips, which is equivalent to about 3 litres of water. After a week it will be 21 litres and after
a month it will be 90 litres. That ends up being about 1080 litres each year. And that’s
being conservative. Depending on how many leaky taps you have and how fast the water
is dripping, you could lose up to 20,000 litres of water in a year. That is enough water to fill
a small swimming pool.
WHAT CAUSES A TAP TO LEAK?
To stop water from running when it’s turned off, taps use either rubber or ceramic parts to
create a seal to prevent the water from flowing. When those parts wear out, your tap leaks.
These are the key leaky tap issues;
Washer – This is by far one of the most common causes. With each use, the
washer is forced against the valve seat, so the constant friction causes it to wear
out. Replacing the washer can fix the problem.
O Ring – A stem screw is used to hold the handle of a tap in place. This stem
screw includes a small disc attached to it, known as the O ring. The O ring can
become loose or wear out over regular use, causing the tap to leak near the handle.
Replacing the damaged O ring should fix the issue.
Valve Seat – A valve seat serves as a connection between the tap and the spout in
the compression mechanism. Build-up of water sediments can cause the valve seat
to corrode, causing leakage around the spout area.
Isn’t it time you did something about your leaky tap?
Call our friendly team at kLEEN PLUMBING on 07 5370 9970 and we can arrange for one of our licensed plumbers to repair
any leaks and replace any damaged or worn parts.