indoors
L IV IN G G R E E N
l o o k
f o r
l o o k s
Fixing leaking fixtures and appliances
w ill save you water and money. After
ruling out drips from faucets and
showerheads, do a thorough search.
METER ACTIVITY Record the usage on
your water meter; if it has a leak
detector, note whether it is moving.
Then, refrain from using any water for
about eight hours (overnight or while
everyone is gone during the day), and
check the meter again. If the reading
has changed or the leak detector is
moving, you have a leak.
TEST THE TOILET A toilet is the most
common source of an unknown leak. To
check it, add a few drops of food
coloring to the tank. The food coloring
w ill be evident in the toilet bowl after
30 minutes if there’s a leak. Replacing
the flapper w ill usually fix the problem.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES Check the pipes
under each sink, your washing machine
hose, and the floor around your water
heater; disconnect hoses from outside
faucets. If you’re unable to identify the
leak’s source, contact a plumber.
л
Number of gallons of water wasted in one
year by a raucet leaking water at a rate of one drip
per second.
Source: Energy Star
.
SOLAR-POWERED
SCALE
Batteries not included—
because they’re not needed.
Equipped with built-in solar
cells that are powered by
any available light, this
solar scale features a
1.3-inch-high LCD display
^that’s always easy to
read. Tanita HS-301, $60;
thecompetitiveedge.com
LOW-FLOW
FAUCET
This bathroom sinkfaucet
combines classic styling with
contemporary water savings. It
has received the WaterSense
designation from the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency, which means it’s
more efficient than
required bylaw.
Muirfield, $273; moen.com
76 JULY 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
SENSOR IN A
SHOWERHEAD
No more wasting hot water as
you prepare to shower. This
3.25-inch-diameter
showerhead runs until the
water reaches 95° F, then
automatically reduces the
flow to a trickle, signaling
your shower is ready. Just
flip the switch or pull the
cord to start the full spray.
Roadrunner, $40;
evolveshowerheads.com
ASK DANNYSEO
M
Are tankless
water heaters
really ready for
prime time?
Maryanne, South Carolina
They’re definitely picking
up steam. Tankless water
heaters, which instantly
heat water but only when
you need it, eliminate the
energy use that comes
from keeping water warm
in a tank. According to
Rinnai, a leading maker of
tankless systems, you can
achieve 40 percent energy
savings, around $270 a
year, over an electric tank.
Plus, they last longer than
conventional units and
require less maintenance
(lower risk of leaks).
Tankless units are included
in the new Energy Star
water heater program, so
energystar.gov
is a good
place to start your search
for the most energy-
efficient ones. They aren’t
cheap (plan on spending
two or three times as
much as for a standard
water heater),
but you might
qualify for a
federal tax credit
(see
ase.org
for
details).
HAVE A QUESTION FOR
OUR GREEN EXPERT?
Send it to
AskDanny@
meredith.com,
or post it on
Danny’s Simply Living Green
blog at
BHG.com/livinggreen,
where you’ll find more tips.
PHOTO: (PORTRAIT) ADAM ALBRIGHT
