Stop the money drain

Yep, its that time of year again. Today marks the start of the EPA-created Fix a Leak Week. Now with much of the Northeast dealing with flooding after this weekend and the rest of the country gearing up for their own spring rains, it can be hard to remember that water is a valuable resource. If you're having trouble with the concept, just dig out your latest water bill. And while you're at, check to see how much water you paid for. If you're a family of four who's going through more than 12,000 gallons a month in the winter, odds are you've got a leak or two in the house, according to the EPA. And you're not alone. Household leaks waste about 1 trillion gallons of water per year, which is enough to supply every home in the large, warm state of Texas with its annual water needs, says the EPA.

Read on after the jump for tips on how to minimize the unnecessary drain on your wallet.

While investing in WaterSense-labeled faucets, toilets and other products will certainly help with your annual bills, it's keeping up with simple household maintenance that will really make a big impact:

Check faucet washers and gaskets for wear and tear, replacing as necessary. See here for more leaky faucet trouble-shooting tips.

See if your toilet has sprung a leak by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank.If the color makes its way into the bowl after a few minutes, you probably need to replace the worn out rubber flapper. For more easy toilet fixes, see here.

And for other no-sweat plumbing repairs, check out this article.