When you think of saving money on your utility bills you might assume that it means cutting down on your electricity use and keeping your thermostat low, but one utility often overlooked by homeowners is the water bill. Wasting water impacts the environment and costs money. Don’t wash your hard-earned money down the drain. Follow these six simple tips to conserve water and start saving hundreds this year on your water bill.
Install Low-Flow Shower Heads And Faucet Aerators
These simple upgrades automatically reduce your water usage. A standard low-flow shower head uses 2.5 gallons or less of water every minute. The US Department of energy estimates you can save from 20 to 60% on your water bill by changing your shower head. Put aerators on your kitchen and bathroom sink faucets to reduce water flow without taking away pressure.
Turn Off The Water While Shaving And Brushing Your Teeth
When you aren’t directly using water it is a good idea to turn it off. This is especially a good idea for when you are brushing your teeth. Then turn it back on to rinse your mouth and toothbrush. You can also fill the sink with a couple inches of water to rinse your razor off instead of letting water run down the drain the entire time.
Limit Dishwasher Use To Full Loads
Dishwashers typically use the same amount of water whether you run it full or half empty. Contrary to popular belief, running your dishwasher uses 1/6 the amount of water than hand-washing dishes multiple times per day. You’ll also save on your electric bill and dish soap costs by running the dishwasher half as often if you wait until it’s full.
Fix leaks
A leak in your bathroom sink might seem minuscule, but a leak of one drip per second uses an extra 1,661 gallons of water every year. Multiply that figure by other leaks and you’re paying for thousands of gallons of water every year that is being wasted. You might consider consulting with an expert company like HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric if you think you might be losing water somewhere.
Upgrade Your Appliances
Old appliances, especially clothes washers, use more water than newer ones that use less water and energy. A front-loading clothes washer uses up to 50% less energy and from 35-50% less water than a conventional top-loader.
Install An Adjustable Toilet Flapper
Flushing the toilet uses up to five gallons of water. An adjustable flapper allows you to change the flush volume. An adjustable flapper or low-flow toilet uses only 1-2 gallons per flush for a potential savings of three gallons on every flush.
Every penny saved from a lower water bill is money that can be spent elsewhere. Take advantage of these simple ways to cut down on water usage and watch the savings accumulate.
