Water use in our homes can add up quickly. Even if you live alone, you could waste gallons of water every day simply by going about your normal routine. Just imagine what a family of four (or more!) could be wasting in a single day! Conserving water is important for a number of reasons, not least of which is preventing water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. When you conserve water, you also save on your utility bill and extend the life of your septic system. Fortunately, conserving water is not difficult if you know how. These simple tips on using household appliances will help you save water and money and avoid costly repairs.
Toilet Tips
Every time you flush the toilet, you waste gallons of water. Many people view the toilet as just another trash can and frequently flush facial tissue, gum wrappers, or other small bits of trash. Not only does this waste water, but it can also have negative consequences on your septic system. Throw everything you’re able to in the trash and reduce flushes.
To save even more water in the bathroom, consider replacing old toilets with low volume flush models, which can reduce water waste by 70%. You can also look into a dual flush toilet that averages 15,000 gallons of water each year in water savings. Not sure which you should get? Talk to a plumbing professional to get information on the best model for your situation.
Keep an Eye on the Showers
Everyone loves a long, hot shower. Unfortunately, a four-minute shower uses anywhere from 20 to 40 gallons of water. A few ways to cut down on water waste while showering is to turn the water off after you soap up and then turn it back on to rinse off, limit showering time to a couple of minutes by using a shower timer, or install water-saving, low-flow showerheads.
Check for Leaks
Even a small drip from a faucet can waste upwards of 20 gallons of water a day and larger leaks can waste hundreds. To identify leaks that aren’t normally easy to spot, dry your tub, and sinks thoroughly and let them sit for an hour before checking for wetness. Toilets can also leak and these leaks are especially tough to catch. One trick is to put some food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes without flushing, you’ve got a leak that needs to be repaired.
Wash Those Dishes Right
Unless you’re eating takeout on a paper plate every meal, there will be dishes sitting in your sink. You may think that washing them by hand will save you some water, but that’s actually not true. Washing dishes in the dishwasher uses half as much water as washing by hand and even more if you have a water-conserving model. If you don’t have a dishwasher, wash your dishes by filling one side of your sink with soapy water to wash and one with rinse water to avoid constant running water.
Do Laundry as Efficiently as Possible
It’s tempting to throw a handful of laundry in whenever you think of it or want a certain item clean, but this is wasteful. Only use your washer for full loads. If you have to do a partial load, adjust the water level to minimize waste. You can maximize water conservation by purchasing a high-efficiency washer that uses up to 50% less water and energy per load.
Saving water doesn’t have to be a huge hassle. With just a few tweaks to your daily routine, you can conserve water, save money, and do your part to improve the planet. Need help with a leak or other plumbing issue? Call the professionals at ASAP today!