With the current economic conditions nationwide, people everywhere are looking for ways to save money, especially when it comes to clothes, entertainment – and now, even water. Stan Berenbaum, president of American Leak Detection, says residents can significantly save on their finances by taking a few extra steps in their day to conserve water. They offer a proactive approach to finding, fixing and preventing leaks to decrease your water bill.

"There are many ways one can become 'water-wise,'" Berenbaum said. "When you take the time to conserve water, you are not only conserving your funds, you are also preserving the planet's water. In an effort to help residents learn ways to be more water-conscious, we have provided a list of tips and advice that they can keep in mind."

The following are some easy steps residents can take in order to promote a better environment and save on their household expenses:

1. Signs and Symptoms. Do you hear water running when there is nothing on?  If your water or gas bill is running high, it could indicate a cold or hot water leak.  Are there hot spots on the slab or floor? Is the auto fill constantly running on pool/spa?  Toilets constantly filling could indicate bad flapper or float assembly.
2. Watch for leaks! Pay attention to signs and symptoms of plumbing, pool and spa leaks. Do a routine indoor/outdoor check every three months, or call a professional to do it.
3. Check faucets for drips. If a drip fills an 8-ounce glass every quarter hour, it will lose about 180 gallons per month, Berenbaum said. That equals 2,160 gallons a year, enough for at least 30 showers or baths. Drips can usually be fixed by replacing inexpensive washers or valve seats.
4. Install flow restrictors or other conservation devices on all faucets in your home. With these in the shower alone, you can cut your water use from about 5 to 10 gallons per minute to as low as 1.4 to 3 gallons per minute.
5. Use a pool/spa cover to cut down on water loss and heating costs caused by evaporation.
6. Use drinking water and keep it in the refrigerator so you don't have to run the tap until the water gets cold enough to drink.
7. Prevent tap water from running by scraping food from plates with a utensil, instead of running water. Instead of continuously running water in the sink when washing dishes, hand wash dishes in a sink full of soapy water and rinse all of the dishes at the same time. Turn water off while brushing your teeth.
8. Decrease toilet flush water. Lower the amount of water you use per flush by replacing regular or older toilets with new ultra-low flush models or put water displacement devices inside every toilet tank.
9. Sprinklers. Use accurate and efficient sprinklers or drip irrigation systems instead of hand watering, and check sprinklers for jammed or malfunctioning heads. Water lawns during the coolest times of the day, before 10 a.m. or in the evening.  Adjust time per zone as needed throughout the year.
10. Landscaping. Pull weeds; they steal water from desirable plants, Berenbaum said. And, put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow moisture evaporation.

Besides this helpful advice, Berenbaum said that residents can visit the company's Web site to use its online water meter test as a preventative measure. By following the list of easy steps, which takes only 30 minutes, people can detect whether they have a leak in their pressurized water system, or if they have a running toilet that should be serviced. The test can be found by visiting
www.AmericanLeakDetection.com.

The primary commitment of American Leak Detection is to conserve water, the world's most precious resource, Berenbaum said. American Leak Detection worldwide has found 4, 519, 824 leaks since 1974 and counting. If each leak that they detected saved water from even a pinhole size leak, then they saved billions of gallons of water.

For more information about American Leak Detection, or to learn more ways to conserve water, please visit www.AmericanLeakDetection.com.

About American Leak Detection
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Palm Springs, ALD is dedicated to resource protection and eco-friendly services. ALD is the world leader in the accurate, non-destructive detection of all types of leaks including hidden water and sewer leaks. From swimming pool cracks to concealed plumbing systems, the smallest leak is located with the most advanced, sophisticated electronic devices - without bashing holes in walls or digging up the deck and yard. For the last seven years, American Leak Detection has been ranked #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine’s “Maintenance Products and Services” franchise sector. In February 2008, The Wall Street Journal ranked American Leak Detection as one of the top 25 High Franchise Performers. For more information on American Leak Detection, call 800.755.6697 or visit www.americanleakdetection.com.

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