Welcome to our latest blog post, where we’ll walk you through how to leverage your water submetering dashboard to identify and address one of the most common sources of water waste: a running toilet. With our advanced dashboard features, you can easily pinpoint unusual water consumption patterns, saving both water and money.
Understanding your submetering dashboard
Your water submetering dashboard is designed to give you detailed insights into your water usage. By regularly monitoring the data, you can quickly spot anomalies that indicate potential issues such as leaks or running toilets. Here’s how to use the dashboard effectively.
Step-by-Step Guide to Identifying a Running Toilet
Step 1: Log In and Access Your Dashboard
Start by logging into your submetering account and accessing the dashboard. You’ll be greeted with an overview of your water consumption data, displayed in easy-to-read graphs and charts.
Step 2: Review Your Daily Water Usage
Navigate to the section that displays daily water usage. Look for any unusual patterns in water consumption that don’t align with your normal usage patterns. A running toilet often causes continuous use of water, and is especially noticeable during times when water usage should be minimal, such as late at night.
Step 3: Examine Hourly Data for Detailed Insights
To get a clearer picture, dive into the hourly water usage data. Identify any periods of constant water flow. A running toilet will typically show as a consistent, non-stop line of water usage throughout the day and night, rather than the expected fluctuations from normal activities.
Step 4: Compare with Historical Data
Compare the current data with historical water usage patterns. If you notice a recent uptick in consumption that doesn’t correlate with increased occupancy or usage, it’s a strong indicator of a running toilet or another leak.
Real world example
Let’s look at a real-world example from a property manager’s view. The scenario is that the water meter for a now vacant retail unit shows that water consumption is approximately 4000 gallons per day.
This is an hourly view for a day in May for the vacant unit. Again 24/7 same usage of +/-170 gallons.
And below are 15 min increments. It is running right about 2.8 gallons per minute which is the signature of a toilet that is constantly running.
This leaky toilet is running at about 2.85 gallons per minute, 24/7. Over a month, that’s over 120,000 gallons of wasted water and money.
Taking Action
Once you’ve identified a potential running toilet, it’s time to take action:
- Inspect Your Toilets: Check all the toilets in the property for any signs of running water. Listen for hissing sounds or check the water levels in the tank.
- Fix the Issue: Often, a simple adjustment to the flapper valve or float can resolve the problem. If you’re not comfortable making repairs yourself, consider contacting a professional plumber.
- Monitor Post-Repair: After fixing the issue, continue to monitor your dashboard to ensure that the problem has been resolved. You should see a return to normal water usage levels.
Conclusion
By using your water submetering dashboard, you can proactively identify and address water waste issues like a running toilet. This not only helps conserve water but also reduces your utility bills. Regular monitoring and prompt action can make a significant difference in water conservation efforts.
Stay tuned for more tips on how to make the most of your water submetering system and optimize your water usage. Happy conserving!
