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Water conservation isnt only good for the environment; its also good for your bank account. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), easy-to-fix leaks in homes across the country waste a total of almost 1 trillion gallons of water every year. Furthermore, because the average leaky home wastes about 10,000 gallons annually, leaks could be costing you at least 10 percent more on your water bills”without you even knowing it.

Are pesky water leaks hiding in your home? To find out quickly, take the EPAs 10-minute challenge to search for common leaks using the agencys room-by-room checklist below:

BATHROOM
Toilets: Conduct a leak test by putting a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and letting it sit for 10 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak and might need to replace your toilet flapper. (Make sure to flush after the test to avoid staining the tank.)

Faucets: Listen for drips, and turn on the tap to check for water going the wrong direction.

Showerheads: Turn on the shower, and look for drips or stray sprays that can be stopped with pipe tape.

In the tub: Turn on the tub, then divert the water to the shower and see if theres still a lot of water coming from the tub spout; that could mean the tub spout diverter needs replacing.

Under the sink: Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges.

LAUNDRY ROOM
Clothes washer: Check for pooling water, which could indicate a supply line leak.

KITCHEN
Faucet: Listen for drips, and tighten aerators or replace fixtures if necessary.

Sprayer: Check to make sure water is spraying smoothly, and clean openings as needed.

Under the sink: Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges.

Appliances: Check for pooling water underneath dishwashers and refrigerators with ice makers, which could indicate a supply line leak.

BASEMENT/UTILITY ROOM
Water heater: Check beneath the tank for pooling water, rust or other signs of leakage.

THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
Check for signs of moisture or mold on your walls, ceilings or floors. This could indicate that a pipe is causing trouble behind the scenes and requires the attention of a professional.

In addition to the 10-minute checklist, the EPA also suggests looking at your water bill. If a family of four uses over 12,000 gallons of water during a colder month, such as January or February, the house likely has a major leak problem. Compare your utility bills to see if theres a random jump in monthly water usage, as well.

Many household water leaks, such as running toilets or dripping faucets, are simple to fix. You can read a DIY book or watch an instructional video online, then take a quick trip to your local hardware store for supplies. Cracking down on leaks can help your community conserve water and, better yet, ensure your money isnt going down the drain.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Phone scams are more common and trickier than ever.

To protect your identity and money, follow these tips:

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers.

Never give unexpected callers personal information, including passwords or Social Security numbers.

If a caller asks you to press a button, hang up. It may be a robocaller, and scammers use this trick to identify targets.

Dont answer questions with yes. Scammers could record the response as a voice signature used to authorize fraudulent charges.

Remember that a legitimate company or government agency usually mails a statement before calling, especially about payments.

When it comes to avoiding phone scams, caution is key.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A federal program helps low-income families buy a home with a unique method meant to encourage saving: It matches dollar-for-dollar what they save to buy their first home.

The Individual Development Account, or IDA, doesnt offer a lot of money to help with a down payment ” up to $2,000 in federal matching funds with more contributions possible from local IDA programs ” but its a start.

Participants can start by saving as little as $25 ” matched to as much as eight to one, depending on the program, though most offer one-to-one matches. Income levels must be 200 percent below their states poverty level.

With an 8:1 match, IDA participants can raise much more than the $4,000 total with federal matching, and could have $10,000 or so for a down payment on a house.

Most IDAs are funded by the federal government and are run by nonprofit groups and financial institutions, and grantee programs are required to raise an equal contribution of nonfederal funds. It can take from six months to several years to save for a down payment on a house through the program.

To earn the matching dollars, some IDA programs require account holders to take financial literacy classes and training on homeownership; they are also provided counseling and instructions on how their local program works.

More than 60,000 IDAs have opened in the U.S. since Congress established them in 1998. The Administration for Children and Families is the federal agency that provides the federal half of the match.

IDAs arent just used for buying a home. The matching money can also be used to repair an existing home, go to college or start a business.

Getting help with a down payment through IDA can benefit both lenders and homebuyers, who are less likely to default on home loans after participating in the program. IDA participants are 2 – 3 times less likely to lose their homes to foreclosure than other low-income buyers, according to a 2010 study from the Corporation for Enterprise Development and the Urban Institute.

An IDA might not be for everyone. But for families that can afford to save small amounts of money over time, matching money from an IDA can help them get a good start on a down payment and homeownership.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you’re shopping for a home, you most likely want a house with a garage. During your search, you’ll come across houses with attached or detached garages. You’ll need to decide which is the right choice based on your familys needs and preferences.

Pros and Cons of an Attached Garage
The most common reason why people choose a house with an attached garage is convenience. You could simply pull your car into the garage and walk into your house. That could make things easier if you have young children and need to carry their backpacks, musical instruments or sports equipment, as well as groceries, into the house on a regular basis. An attached garage also means you wouldnt need to walk through rain or snow to get to your house.

There are some downsides to an attached garage, however. The biggest concern is security. If you used an electronic garage door opener and forgot to close the door, someone could enter your house. It’s also possible that the garage door opener could malfunction or be hacked. Another concern is fire. If your car caught fire in the garage or fluid leaked and ignited, the fire could quickly spread and engulf your entire house.

Depending on the size and shape of the lot, an attached garage could be limited in size. It might be difficult or impossible to fit two cars, and you might be forced to park one or more vehicles in the driveway or on the street.

Reasons to Consider a Detached Garage
If you dont have young kids and dont mind getting wet on a rainy day, a detached garage might be a better choice. Since a detached garage can be built anywhere on the property (provided it doesnt violate local building codes), there’s more flexibility in terms of size and design. If you have several vehicles, you might be able to find a house with a large detached garage or build one after you move in.

If you plan to use your garage for a hobby, a detached garage could be better for both you and your family. Since the garage would be separated from the house, you would have more privacy. You wouldnt need to worry about the noise from power tools or the odors from chemicals that you used for painting or working on your car bothering your family.

A detached garage can also be safer. If you plan to store flammable chemicals, having the garage separated from the house could contain the damage if something accidentally caught fire. In addition, someone who entered your detached garage wouldn’t be able to enter your house.

Which Is Right for You?
For some homebuyers, an attached garage is extremely important, while a detached garage is an acceptable or even preferable alternative for others. Think about your familys circumstances and preferences and how you would like to use your garage to make a decision.

Published with permission from RISMedia.