According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the typical U.S. home can waste up to 11,000 gallons of water per year only through household leaks. So we should pay attention to conserve this increasingly scarce resource. Here are some very useful tips to check out the leakages in your home plumbing system.

1. A Look at Water Meter: Observing your water meter can help you identify the leakages. What you need to do is to stop using water for two hours, and check the water meter before and after that period. If the meter reading fluctuates even a little bit, then you might have a leak in your plumbing system.

2. Check the Water Bill: You need to look at the water bills for the two months of the year. Say January and February, as they are the coldest months and water usage is minimum during this period. If you are a family of four member and the consumption is more than 12,000 gallons a month that means there are some serious leaks.

3. Toilet Leakages: Toilets are the common places where leaks generally happen. To identify any leaks in toilet tank, put a drop of food coloring in it and watch for some time. If the color shows up in the bowl before you flush that indicates there is some leak. The most common reason of a toilet leak is a worn out valve seal, also known as toilet flapper. Flappers are rubber parts that can decay over time and build up minerals. They are inexpensive and replacing them might sole your leakage problems.

4. Look for Leaky Faucets: Leaky faucets are one of the most common leaking causes. It is always recommended to solve such problems with your plumber. The reason behind this is that some faucets are too old to be found in the stores, and they are almost impossible to remove without painful effort. Even if you are ready to give it a try, make sure that you buy the correct replacement.

5. Leaking Showerheads: Showerheads cause big leakage problems. Leaky showerheads can be fixed by ensuring that there is a tight connection between the pipe stem and the showerhead. One can use pipe tape to secure it. Also known as Teflon tape, pipe tapes can be found on any hardware store. It is easy to apply and can help tame unruly leaks. Another thing that needs to be taken care of is to check the washer or O-ring inside the showerhead.

6. Check the Outdoor Leaks: The in-ground irrigation system needs to be checked if you have one. You should check it each spring prior to use and make sure that it wasn't damaged by frost or freezing. Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.