If a drip from your faucet fills an eight ounce glass in 15 minutes, it will waste 180 gallons per month and 2,160 gallons per year.

Call Russo Bros. & Co. at 973-887-1334 and stop that drip.

If your shower’s stream is weak, consider that the water pressure may also be in use elsewhere. It could be a filling toilet tank, the dishwasher, washing machine, or your sprinkler system. If you still have ample pressure at the other faucets in your house, your shower head may be clogged by hard water deposits. If the blockage is severe, you must remove and clean the shower head. If the blockage is not too severe, you may be able to clean it in place. To clean it in place, pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place the bag over the shower head, and secure it with a twist tie. Leave it there overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and use a toothbrush to gently scrub the softened deposits from the holes. If the stream is still weak (even after taking apart the shower head) you should call a professional plumber to locate the clog and clean it.

Call 973-887-1334 and let us help you find and fix that pesky clog.

A hidden leak can be costly if it is allowed to run for a long period of time. How do you protect yourself against leaks that can’t be seen? Simple: Read your water meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being used. There is a leak if the meter does not read exactly the same each time.

If you have a leak and you can’t find out where it is, call Russo Bros. & Co. at 973-887-1334 and we will find and fix it.

By law, all toilets now have low-volume flush features. You can buy volume displacing hard-fired bricks to put in the tank, but don’t use a common construction brick – they crumble and can cause blockage. As an alternative, use plastic bottles weighted with pebbles.

Read more tips from Russo Bros. & Co.

If you’re in the market for a clothes washer, keep in mind that front loading machines use up to one-third less water than top loading machines. The front loading machines can also be stacked with dryers or installed under countertops. Top-loaders use 40 to 60 gallons per wash. Do only full loads or adjust water level for smaller batches.

Found the right washing machine but need help installing it? Call 973-887-1334 and we can install your washing machine for you.

Insulate hot water pipes to keep them warmer and reduce the wait for hot water at the tap. The foam sleeves are inexpensive and help cut energy costs. You can get an insulating blanket for your water heater for the same reason.

If you’d like help, call 973-887-1334 and we can insulate your pipes and your water heater for you.

Last week we talked about managing your sprinkler timer to optimize the effectiveness and expenditure of your sprinkler system. The same goes for your air conditioning system. The best way to manage your system is by installing a timer on your thermostat. You can set your air conditioner to run less or not at all while you are not at home. This can greatly help lower maintenance expenses. This technique can also be applied in the winter to your heating system.

If you don’t have a timer on your thermostat, call 973-887-1334and we can install one for you.

Read more tips from Russo Bros. & Co.