We all know abstractly that water is a limited natural resource that we all need to work together to conserve. But when you look at how you use water in your daily life, it can be challenging to put your finger on anything that you can do to save water. However, experts have examined how consumers use water around their homes to create a list of useful tips to help conserve water. And as a bonus, these tips will also help reduce your water bill.
Some Tips For The Kitchen
Many people think that hand washing a few dishes is smart to reduce the number of dishwasher cycles run per week. And while you will eliminate a dishwasher cycle or two, you will actually be using more water. Many dishwashers use under five gallons of water per cycle. However, running the water from your kitchen sink for just five minutes to wash a handful of dishes will use about ten gallons of water. But be sure only to start a wash cycle when your dishwasher is full to get the most bang for your buck.
Showering
Before you decide that you are not willing to give up anything when it comes to your shower, think about going low flow. The average showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute. But a low flow drops that number to 1.8 gallons per minute. So if you want to enjoy a leisurely ten-minute shower, you could be saving seven gallons of water. The alternative to save that same amount of water would be to reduce your shower by three minutes. And while 7 gallons per shower does not sound like much savings, it totals over 2,500 gallons of water in just one year.
Toilets
Toilets account for about 30% of all water used in the average home. And a single leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water every day that it continues to run. Fixing these issues is often as simple as replacing the flapper or a valve with a few dollars in parts from the big box store. And when it is time to replace your toilet, shop for a low-flow model to save over four gallons per flush.
The Bathroom Faucet
The most significant water waste in the bathroom might be the faucet in the sink. This is where you stand to brush your teeth and listen to water and money running down the drain. The average household wastes over 3,000 gallons of water a year while brushing teeth. And the solution is as simple as turning the water off while you brush and then turning it back on to rinse your toothbrush. Imagine saving enough water in three years to fill a swimming pool. That is what you will accomplish with this simple process.
In The Laundry Room
Only washing a full load of laundry offers the same benefit as washing a full load of dishes. You get the most bang for the money that you spend on water and electricity. The other significant savings can be enjoyed when you purchase a new Energy Star rated washing machine. Old units used up to 40 gallons of water to wash a load of laundry. But Energy Star models use 33 gallons or less, and the most efficient models get that number down to 15 gallons per load. You could easily be saving hundreds of gallons a week.
To learn more about saving water around your home, call (512) 910-8123 to speak to the pros at Parobek Plumbing. Our team can assist you with repairing leaks and installing more efficient appliances.
