One of the best ways to save money is to look at your water usage. When we waste our water, it may not seem like a big deal, but the costs can really add up over time. Even a small leak can waste a lot of money over an entire year, and it could lead to an expensive repair bill too. In this article, we will look at five easy ways that you can reduce the water costs in your home.
1. A Leaky Toilet
If your toilet is running constantly, it can waste a staggering volume of water in a single day. If you’re not sure if you have a problem, there’s an easy way to find out. Add a couple of drops of food dye to the toilet tank and leave it for a few minutes. If the food dye colors the water in the toilet bowl, you have a leaky toilet. If you’re good at DIY, you can get the replacement parts to fix most leaky toilet problems at your local hardware store. If you’re not sure how to proceed, contact your local certified plumber, and they will be happy to help.
2. Pre-Warming Beverages
If you’ve noticed that your water is taking a long time to heat, you can pre-warm the water in your microwave oven. This can save a lot of time, but it will not fix the underlying problem with your water heater. An aging water heater can be a real drain on your water and your energy, which leads to higher utility bills. If you’re not sure about the performance and efficiency of your water heater, your local plumber can help. In many cases, the water heater can be improved with cleaning and flushing to remove the sediment that’s accumulated there. But, in some cases, it’s cheaper and easier to simply replace the water heater with a new energy efficient model.
3. A Fully Loaded Dishwasher
Using a dishwasher is a more efficient way to wash your dishes when compared to handwashing. But, this is only true if the dishwasher is filled to maximize the efficiency benefits. To get the best out of your machine and to reduce water waste, scrape the plates and dishes clean first. Then load the dishwasher, and don’t worry about rinsing later because the machine will take care of that chore for you.
4. Take Shorter Showers
Showering uses far less water than luxuriating in the tub, but if you take longer showers, you’re still using a lot of extra water. If you install a low-flow showerhead and limit your showers to 5 minutes, you can save around 22.5 gallons of water, according to the EPA. If you add that up for an entire family for the year, it’s easy to see how much water and money you can save.
5. Install a Tankless Water Heater
When it’s time to replace your old water heater, consider a tankless model to reduce your water costs further. The water will heat fast, and it only heats when you need it to save money on your energy bills too.
If you’re concerned about the volume of water wasted in your home, contact your local certified plumber today.
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.
