Plumber’s Tip: 10 Tips to Save Water, Energy, and Money
Small changes in our everyday water usage habits can make a big difference for the environment and help lower monthly utility bills. If your family is like mine, you probably flip on faucets, showers and hoses with little thought about how much water you are actually using – and how much you are actually wasting!
Water must be filtered and processed before it comes through your faucets. It must be filtered again after going through the drains. Less water usage in your home means water treatment facilities can use less energy. It also means you save money on your utility bills!
Try these 10 simple steps to help save the earth and keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks. A leaking faucet or pipe can lose as much as ten gallons of water a day.
- Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are full. If you wash your dishes by hand, do not let the water run during washing. Put water in one side of the sink for washing and the other side for rinsing.
- Don’t leave the faucet running when brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Install a water-saving shower head that can save several gallons of water in each shower. These shower heads release less water with the same amount of water pressure.
- Although showers use less water than baths, it is important to keep your showers short. Every minute that your shower runs, you are using five to ten gallons of water.
- Insulate your water pipes so you get hot water faster without having to let the water run for a while to heat up.
- If you do need to run the water for a while to wait for it to heat up, catch the water in a bowl or pitcher and use it for other things like watering plants or cleaning.
- Water the lawn or garden early in the morning – and only when truly necessary. Watering in the afternoon under the hot sun causes more of the water to evaporate before it can soak into the ground.
- Whenever possible, limit the number of times that you flush the toilet. Each flush uses five to seven gallons of water. You can also limit the amount of water used per flush by using a float booster in the tank or installing a low flow toilet.
- Use a broom to clean outside walks and garages instead of spraying them with a hose.
A few simple steps can go a long way in saving water, energy and money!