In addition to decreasing your water bill expenses, it’s nice to know that there are ways to exist without excessive water consumption. If you don’t know where to get started, consider the following tips to help you use less water in your home.
1. Run the Dishwasher
In order to save water and energy, a lot of people believe it’s best to wash the dishes by hand. The average person mindlessly uses about 27 gallons of water when washing a sink full of dishes. Compared to a dishwasher that cleans the dishes using only three gallons of water, it’s safe to say that it’s time to turn on that dishwasher more often.
2. Don’t Run Water Indefinitely
When you’re standing at the sink to brush your teeth, don’t leave the water running. Once the toothbrush and toothpaste are wet, turn the water off to take care of the brushing. It typically takes two to five minutes to thoroughly cleanse the mouth. The same sentiment holds true for shaving in the shower. Lather your skin with water and shaving cream first. Then, turn off the water as you carefully get the close shave you desire.
3. Time Your Showers
While it’s fine to enjoy a long shower after a really hard day, be more mindful of how long your regular showers are. A long, hot shower is nice when it happens once or twice a week. If every shower session is long and hot, though, this is a problem of excessive water consumption.
Instead, install a shower timer in your bathroom. Look for one with suction cups that allows you to see when your time is up. Set it between five and seven minutes at a time. As you get used to this adjustment, you’ll realize that no one needs as much time in the shower as they might believe they do.
4. Use Low-Flow Appliances
When shopping for items like toilets, shower heads, and hoses, look for low-flow options. The toilet tends to use the most water. A low-flow toilet can make a massive difference in the amount of water you use on a consistent basis. A low-flow showerhead helps to thoroughly clean without wasting more water.
5. Use a Sink Basin for Rinsing and Cleaning
After a trip to the grocery store, one of the first things most people like to do is rinse off their produce before they store them away. Instead of washing every piece of produce under running water, fill up a basin that you can fill with water. Then, pour all of the produce into that water-filled basin. Use a fruit and vegetable cleansing solution to scrub and thoroughly clean off any dirt or pesticides. Once you’re finished, it’s okay to do a final rinse of the produce for good measure.
The same process can be repeated with dishes at the end of the day. Fill up a basin, and place the dirty dishes inside. Let them soak for a few minutes in order to get rid of hardened food particles. Instead of rinsing the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, scrape the food particles off. Then, let the dishwasher do the hard work of cleaning and rinsing.
6. Measure Cooking Water
For anyone who loves to cook, it’s easy and fun to efficiently and effortlessly move around the kitchen. It’s easy to “cook with love” and avoid arduous measurements. However, if you want to trim down the water usage in your home, use a measuring cup to get the right amount of water for your meal preparation process.
Don’t simply fill a pot with water in order to make spaghetti or rice. Instead, use a measuring cup to get exactly the amount you need. Plus, the more water you use in food preparation, the more watered down the dish becomes. You want to extract as many nutrients from your food as you can, and using less water helps you to retain more of the food’s benefits.
7. Use a Reusable Water Bottle
At home, one of the most efficient ways to consume drinking water is through a water filter. Because plastic water bottles tend to be wasteful, drinking from a filter can also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
As it pertains to using less water, you’ll want to drink tons of water at home. The key is to be picky about how you drink it. The average person needs at least eight cups of water every single day. If you’re drinking water from a different cup, you’re creating more dirty cups that need to be washed with water. Instead, use one reusable water bottle throughout each day. At the end of each day, you can clean that one water bottle and reuse it the next day.
8. Don’t Discard Items in the Toilet
For the times when you’ve killed that unwanted spider, you might be completely repulsed by the idea of it sitting in a trash can. Consequently, you might feel tempted to discard the critter by throwing it in the toilet. However, each time you flush a toilet, you’re using gallons of water. This is a terrible use of the toilet.
Whether you’re discarding a tissue you used to blow your nose or a can of old soda, throw items in the trash. Only use the toilet for its proper use. If you want to quickly get the trash out of your home, take it outside to the outdoor trash bin. Don’t use the toilet as an option.
9. Check Your Home for Leaks
On a bimonthly basis, check around your house for potential water leaks. Water leaks can lead to mold, water damage, and a costly repair bill. By doing a routine check, you’ll mitigate the chances of those types of occurrences, and you’ll know that you’re not accidentally wasting water.
Some of the ways you can check for water leaks include keeping an eye out for wet walls and high utility bills. When you’re checking for wet walls, look for discoloration in the paint or bubbles or grooves in typically flat walls. When you’re checking your utility bills, look for any random spikes in your water usage.
Another way to check for water leaks is to review your water meter. Start by turning off all of the faucets in your home. Once you’ve confirmed that all of the faucets are off, check the water meter to see if you’re still getting a reading. If your meter indicates that the water is still running, there could be a leak. To get an expert opinion on any potential problems, Fahnestock HVAC is a Wichita-based service provider with highly qualified plumbing professionals who can offer solutions for leak detection and repair and other plumbing concerns.
10. Water Your Lawn Properly
If you have a lawn, monitor how much water you’re using to water it. Use just enough to nourish the lawn, but know that the right soil and nutrients matter just as much as adequate watering. Daily watering is actually too much water for most lawns.
A low-flow sprinkler is a worthwhile investment if you don’t have the time to water the lawn in a timely manner. If you’re opting to use a water sprinkler, don’t leave it running the entire day. If there’s a timing capability installed, run it on a timer. Position the sprinkler in a way that it actually waters the lawn instead of the driveway, the sidewalk, or the street.
If you have the time to monitor your lawn, using a low-flow water hose will suffice. Depending on the climate you’re in, you’ll typically only need to water the lawn once or twice a week for a few minutes each time.
Making the Changes
As you work to make changes in your water consumption at home, gain clarity by using the services we offer at Fahnestock HVAC. At our company, you’re able to receive plumbing services such as toilet replacement, pipe repairs, and sewer line cleanings. Our wide variety of services expands beyond plumbing to include geothermal energy system installations as well as heating, air conditioning, and electrical repairs. For assistance and additional information, contact us at Fahnestock HVAC today.
