Homeowners who have leaky plumbing and old or running toilets may end up throwing their hard-earned dollars down the drain if the problem is not addressed immediately.

According to Rogers Water Utilities a leaky faucet can waste up to 100 gallons a day and a slow drip can waste approximately 250 gallons monthly. A toilet flapper hung partially open has been estimated to waste up to 50,000 gallons monthly.

Sure, the water is being used again, but it has to go through the treating, filtration process — which ends up costing homeowners and other taxpayers in the various Grand County sanitation districts, not to mention that it is a waste of a limited natural resource.

“It’s a double whammy,” said Rod Lock, master plumber and owner of B & J Plumbing & Heating. “Water is a big deal up here.”

This spring, one homeowner who had a leak problem came to B & J Plumbing & Heating to ask for advice, but she said it was really hard for her to pay the hourly rate most plumbers charge.

Later that day, over coffee, Lock and project manager Jim Wray thought long and hard about what the Granby company could do to assist local homeowners like her.
“She kind of made us more aware,” Lock said. “So, we thought of ways we could be able to offer a reduced rate.”

The two brainstormed the idea to give a special spring rate for homeowners who have minor problems such as leaks, who find it usually difficult to afford a quality plumber’s hourly rate.

“We’re going out to help the local people,” Lock said. Through the month of May, B&J has decided to knock $25 off their hourly rate to help fix minor problems like dripping faucets and showerhead replacements.

Homeowners are advised to replace old toilets and showerheads with low-flow fixtures if their home was built before 1992. To help encourage homeowners who have the older toilets to upgrade to a more water-conservative model, B&J is also offering $25 off new toilets and an additional 10 percent off new fixture installation.

Other ways to save water include installing faucet aerators, operating appliances (dishwashers, washing machines) only when full, replacing the flapper in the toilet if it sticks open after flushing, attaching an automatic shut-off nozzle to outside hoses, and switching to water-efficient fixtures (which is said to save the average household between $50 and $100 per year on water and sewer bills).

Low-flow toilets are estimated to use only 1.6 gallons per flush. Water-efficient showerheads are estimated to use 2.5 gallons or less per minute. Stopping the leakage and replacing old fixtures “is the most inexpensive way to lower their water bill,” Wray said.

B&J takes pride in helping preserve the community’s resources and has helped with the local Habitat for Humanities homes “from day one” for no fee.

Conservation of water and resources is the key to B&J’s spring special.

In order for the company to allow the discounts, Lock and Wray are encouraging everyone who needs their services to take advantage of this deal. That way, multiple clients in the same areas may be serviced around the same time frame, lessening the cost of transportation to the sites and “making it so it’s really efficient,” Wray said.
“We’re offering the special to help locals to be able to afford a plumber — this is their
shot.”

To sign up for a service call in your area, call (970) 887-3963 or drop by 752 E. Agate Court in Granby.