Many homeowners want to save money on their water bills and help the environment at the same time. This is a laudable and achievable goal if you have a little knowledge. In this article, we will demonstrate four ways that you can save more water in your home.
- Fix “Minor” Water Leaks Early
A tiny water leak from your faucet may be annoying, but it doesn’t seem like a huge problem when it comes to wasting water. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and a single leaky faucet could be wasting as much as 8 gallons of water per day. A running toilet wastes even more water, and in extreme cases, it could be as much as 200 gallons lost per day! Another thing about “minor” water leaks is that they have a tendency to get worse over time leading to water damage and more water lost. Remember that you have to pay for every drop of water, and when it is wasted, it’s literally money down the drain. So, if you have any annoying leaky plumbing fixtures, get them fixed early to avoid wasting money each day.
- Use Your Dishwasher More Often
This may seem like a strange thing to say at first glance, but this simple tip can really make a difference. When you use your dishwasher more often, you can avoid that annoying clutter that accumulates in and around your kitchen sink. Make sure to rinse the dishes first to remove any excess food debris and grease that remains. Then place those dishes into your Energy Star rated dishwasher to maximize water and energy savings. Each dishwasher cycle only uses around 5 gallons of water, and washing those same dishes by hand could use as much as 27 gallons! Just make sure your dishwasher is full, and you will make the most of your dishwasher and save even more money.
- Look for Water Leaks
Keep an eye out for signs that you have a water leak in your home, such as puddles, stains on walls and ceilings, and a drop in water pressure. But, some water leaks are less obvious, and you may need to do more investigation to uncover a hidden water leak. Turn off every water using appliance and take a water meter reading. Make sure no-one in the home uses any water for an hour and take a second reading. If you have used any water in that hour, there is a water leak somewhere in your home. Locating and fixing these types of water leaks can be tricky because many pipes are hidden behind walls or in other hard to reach places. Contact your local certified plumber; they have the experience and specialized tools to find the leak quickly and fix it for you.
- Schedule a Water Heater Inspection/Repair
A water heater works hard, and many people take them for granted until they stop working. If you have a water leak in your home, the water heater is one of the first things to check. It’s a great idea to schedule an
annual inspection to ensure that this appliance is working as intended and that there are no water leaks. A water heater in good condition is more energy efficient, saving money on your energy bills.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
