Maintenance Checklist for a
Water-Efficient Home

Do This Once Per Year to Save Water:

~	Checkyour home for leaks (indoors and
outdoors) and repair them promptly. Find
instructions on WaterSense's website at
www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.

~	Make sure your toilets aren't continuously
running. Check for leaks by putting a few
drops of food coloring in the tank and wait
10 minutes; if color appears in the bowl,
you have a leak. Flush afterwards to avoid
staining.

~	Inspect showerheads and faucets for scale
buildup and clean if necessary. Add new
plumbingtape to ensure atight fit.

~	Add mulch as needed over landscaped areas
in youryard.

~	Checkyour irrigation system for breaks
and leaks, signs of overwatering or
underwatering, and areas of overspray,
and repair or adjust as necessary. See
WaterSense's Sprinkler Spruce-Up web
page at www.epa.gov/watersense/sprinkler-
spruce-up and WateringTips web page at
www.epa.gov/watersense/watering-tips.

~	Test your pool's automatic refill system and
fill valve.

~	Winterize your irrigation system and pool to
prepare for cold weather.

~	Checkyour service water pressure and adjust
or replace your pressure-regulating valve if
necessary.

~	Have a professional service your home's
water heater and water softener (if one is
installed). If you like to do it yourself, make
sure to flush your water heater to reduce
sediment buildup; checkthe water heater's
temperature and pressure valve; and clean
your water softener's brine tank.

Check These Areas More Frequently for
Water Waste:

Daily

~	Turn off faucets and hose bibbs unless you
are actively using water.

~	Run only full loads of laundry and dishes and
skip extra rinse cycles.

~	During swim season, cover your pool when
it's not in use.

Monthly

~	Compare your water bill to the same month
of the previous year to identify leaks.

~	Weed your landscaped areas so more water
is available for plants.

~	Allow your grass to grow two to three inches
tall before mowing.

~	If you don't have a WaterSense labeled
irrigation controller, revise your irrigation
system's schedule according to seasonal
weather changes.

~	Check the salt level of your water softener
and break up salt bridges.

Do This Every Few Years to Save Water:

~	Hire an irrigation professional certified
by a WaterSense labeled program using
WaterSense's Find a Pro tool at www.epa.gov/
watersense/find-pro to assess your irrigation
system and provide recommendations to
improve its water efficiency.

~	Replace old toilet flappers to ensure a good
seal and avoid toilet leaks.

Learn more atwww.epa.gov/watersense/
home-maintenance.

To learn more about WaterSense, visitwww.epa.gov/watersense.
(866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) | watersense@epa.gov

oEPA

832-F-24-002
March 2024

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