The Real Cost of a Leaking Tap

Australia is the driest continent on the planet, and I can’t believe how relaxed Australians are about our water usage. Each day I see water being wasted as though it’s the cheapest, most plentiful resource available, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. Ninety-nine percent of the world’s water is salty or located in ice caps and glaciers. This means only 1% is available for human consumption.

A leaking tap that drips twice every minute will waste 260 liters of water per year. If this were bottled water, the cost would be around $900 worth of beautiful clean drinking water. It wasn’t long ago that we would have thought it mad that someone would sell our drinking water back to us at an inflated rate.

If every second household in Australia had a leaking tap, then as a nation, we are wasting 1.1 billion liters of water every year just on leaking taps. This wasted water does not include our complete abstract use of clean drinking water in other parts of our lives, like showering and flushing the toilet.

If your house has a leaking tap or toilet, how much is it worth to us as a nation, or even as a species in time to come? I always recommend that when a customer has a leaking tap, they don’t just simply replace the washers but service the entire tap. I know from over 20 years of experience that when one part has worn, the others aren’t far behind. When you have a skilled tradesperson on-site, make the most of their time, rather than have to call them back again in a few months.

Your local plumber should be able to inform you when a service is no longer an option, and the tap needs to be replaced. When looking for a replacement tap, go for quality. Some manufacturers will offer up to 10-year warranties on a good quality tap or mixer so you can be reassured you won’t need to replace it again for a long time.

If you would like to have your tap checked by a licensed plumber, give us a call at 131091. We’re open 24/7 or visit our website. We serve areas in Canberra, Newcastle, Central Coast, and Hunter Valley.