It’s a good idea to get in the habit of saving water at home. Some of our water-saving tips involve preventing leaks and others require small changes in behavior. Read on to learn how you can use less water around the house.
1. Saving Water at Home by Fixing Leaks
One of the most obvious yet overlooked tips for saving water at home is to repair leaks around the house. At only one drip per second, a leaky faucet can waste as much as 2,000 gallons every year. Check all pipes and connections under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Some leaks will be easy DIY fixes and others may require a plumber. Either way, repairing leaky fixtures and pipes will save money in the long run.
2. Water-Saving Tips for the Kitchen
Saving water at home requires effort in the kitchen. Load the dishwasher correctly. Overloading may require you to run the machine again, and running a load multiple times wastes water. Don’t crowd cutlery together. Turn bowls and other concave dishes upside down. Rather than relying on the garbage disposal, start a compost pile outdoors. Rinse produce in a basin or large pot instead of under the tap. Save the water used to rinse veggies or boil pasta for flushing toilets or watering houseplants.
3. Save Water in the Bathroom
Taking a quick shower rather than a long soak in the tub is helpful for saving water at home. A five-minute shower uses around 20 gallons of water while a bath can require 70 gallons. To save more water during your shower, install a low-flow showerhead.
Water runs from faucets at a rate of approximately two gallons per minute. Save water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing up. Wet your hands, turn off the tap, use soap, and then rinse. When shaving your face, use the stopper to hold water in the sink’s basin.
Check your toilet for leaks. A leaking toilet can waste around 200 gallons per day. A cistern displacement device placed in the toilet tank will reduce the volume of water used for flushing.
4. Save Water in the Laundry Room
When it’s time to replace your washing machine, an ENERGY STAR model is a smart investment. Don’t run the washer until you have a full load. The permanent press cycle on your machine uses extra water for an additional rinse, so choose another setting if possible. Check the hoses behind the washer frequently for cracks.
5. Ways to Save Water Outdoors
Saving water at home includes reducing water consumption outside. Most water used outdoors is for watering lawns and gardens. Rather than a sprinkler or hose, use a drip irrigation system. Water in the early morning to decrease the amount of water that gets lost through evaporation. Don’t overwater; simply make sure the soil is moist two inches below the surface. Spreading mulch around plants helps the soil retain moisture.
Get family members involved in your efforts to use less water. With a few easy steps, you can begin saving water at home. You’ll be doing your part to conserve water and reduce your utility bill.
Rock River Inspections offers home inspections and water-testing services in the Houston area. Contact us to schedule an appointment.