During an average day, an American household will use over 300 gallons of water. As a result, utility costs can quickly start to add up if you’re not careful. In turn, though, you can save more than 1,500 gallons of water a year if you reduce your daily consumption by just 5 gallons.
Fortunately, you can take a few easy steps to reduce your water consumption throughout the year. Other than limiting the length of your showers, you can get low-flow fixtures, change your watering habits, and update your appliances. Here are some tips on how to save water during the warm season.
1. Turn Off the Tap When You Brush Your Teeth/Wash Your Face
Leaving the tap on can quickly use up several gallons of water. When you wash your face and brush your teeth, make sure to turn off the tap while you’re actively scrubbing. When it’s time to rinse, turn the water back on.
2. Find Water Leaks in Your House
Water leaks can quickly add up. A typical leaky faucet can waste a gallon of water a day. With a larger leak, you can lose up to 11!
If you’ve noticed a sudden increase in your water bill, you may be dealing with a leak. To find it, search for puddles near your toilets, dishwasher, washing machine, and sinks. Those will be the most obvious places, but a plumber may need to help inspect your home if you don’t find anything.
3. Shorten Your Showers
The average shower takes around 8 minutes, using approximately 16-20 gallons of water. You can save hundreds of gallons of water each month by shortening your shower. You can also shut off the water as you soap up for added savings.
On a related note, a bath can use up to 70 gallons of water. Therefore, switching from baths to showers can also save you money. If you struggle to take shorter showers, try setting an alarm before you get in. When you opt for baths, try filling the tub less so you don’t use as much water.
4. Install Low-Flow Fixtures
A low-flow fixture helps reduce the amount of water your system uses. For example, a low-flow toilet uses less water per flush. Low-flow sinks have less water coming out, so you don’t use as much. Rather than replace the entire faucet, you can simply add an aerator to it. An aerator is a circular object that screws onto the faucet head. It infuses the water with air, so the pressure remains the same.
Also, consider getting a low-flow showerhead. Many modern models use less water while maintaining plenty of pressure. Others have built-in mechanisms to limit the water they use after a specific amount of time. Those heads also let you revert to the normal spray if you’re not done.
5. Use Your Dishwasher
The average dishwasher is significantly more efficient than washing your dishes by hand. However, you should make sure to always run a full load. Modern dishwashers use around 3.5 gallons of water per wash. Meanwhile, washing your dishes by hand can require up to 20 gallons of water.
New dishwashers also don’t require a pre-rinsing step because they’re designed to handle dirty dishes. You simply have to scrape the food off so it doesn’t clog the dishwasher. If you skip the pre-rinsing step, you can save 6,000 gallons of water each year.
Sometimes, bits of food harden onto your plates and bowls. When this happens, you don’t have to run the water during your pre-rinsing step. Instead, add some water to the sink basin. Then, you can pre-rinse all of the dishes in the same water so that you don’t waste as much.
6. Water Early in the Morning or Late in the Evening
Around half the water you use on your plants gets wasted through runoff and evaporation. You can significantly reduce your water bill by changing how you water. If you water during the heat of the day, water will quickly evaporate before plants can absorb it.
Instead, you should focus on watering early in the morning or late in the evening. This gives the water a chance to absorb into the soil before the sun evaporates it. If you’re concerned about plant diseases, water in the morning only. Additionally, you should avoid watering the leaves because the moisture can encourage plant diseases.
7. Set Sprinklers to Water Thoroughly and Infrequently
Next, you should set your sprinklers to water thoroughly and infrequently. When plants are watered like this, it encourages them to send out deep roots. This type of root system is good for plants, as it helps them access water during droughts.
Besides changing your water schedule, you should also take a look at how your sprinklers are set up. They should be targeted at the landscape. If they’re facing your sidewalk or driveway, you need to turn them.
If remembering your new water schedule is difficult, you can always use smart irrigation controllers to update your system. These controllers make it easy to choose watering zones and timing. Plus, these sprinklers can automatically adjust the amount of water they use to suit the weather.
8. Replace Inefficient Appliances
If you have an outdated dishwasher or washing machine, it is likely costing you extra money on your electricity and water bill. You can get appliances installed that are approved by ENERGY STAR, indicating that they use less energy and water.
Depending on the age of your old appliances, an ENERGY STAR dishwasher can cut your electricity usage by more than 10%. It can also decrease your water consumption by 65%. Plus, you can defray some of the cost of new appliances by using rebates.
9. Landscape With Drought-Tolerant Plants
When you grow plants that aren’t intended for a specific ecosystem, you’ll have to use more fertilizer, water, and pesticides to keep your plants alive. Instead, you should consider native plants. These plants are already accustomed to your local region, so they require less upkeep and water.
If you live in a drought-prone area, you can also investigate getting drought-tolerant plants. Local nurseries can generally recommend the best options. Once these new plants are installed in your yard, you can save a significant amount of water every year.
10. Store Water in a Pitcher in Your Fridge
If you drink water straight from your tap, you might want to let warm water out of your pipes. That way, you’ll end up getting the cooler water from the faucet. However, this can end up wasting water. Instead of running the tap each time you need a glass of water, fill a pitcher instead. Then, you can keep this pitcher in your fridge so that it is extra cold.
Similarly, you can microwave water to heat it up instead of running the tap. Because lead and other minerals can dissolve in hot water, you generally don’t want to drink hot water that comes straight from the tap. You can reduce water usage and protect your health by heating purified water in a microwave or stove.
Start Saving on Your Water Bill
You can limit the amount of money you spend on your water bill through a few simple changes. If you want other plumbing tips, John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical can help. We provide heating, air conditioning, plumbing, drain services, and electrical services to the Lincoln and Omaha areas.
To learn more about our repair services and installation options, reach out to one of our team members today.
