10 Practical Ways to Save Water at Home
Conserving water and electricity is increasingly important these days. Not only is it important for the environment, but it's also important for saving money in these challenging economic times. Besides, even in great times, who doesn't want to keep a few dollars in their pocket? There are many ways to save or conserve water at home, from not letting the water run while brushing your teeth and taking shorter showers to waiting until you have a full load of clothes before running the washing machine. Read below for some more water-conserving tips.
1. Check all faucets, toilets and showerheads for leaks.
You'll be surprised as to the amount of water that can be wasted even from a small leak.
2. Insulate your water pipes.
It's easy and inexpensive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation. You'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
3. Install a low-flow showerhead.
Low-flow showerheads are a great way to save water and money. These types of showerheads are not expensive and work by delivering fewer gallons per minute (gpm) of water than conventional showerheads. Low-flow showerheads deliver about 1.6 gpm, compared to about 5 gpm of conventional heads.
4. Install a water-saving toilet.
Water-saving toilets use 1-2 gallons per flush instead of 3-5 gallons. Replacing an 18-liter-per-flush toilet with an ultra-low-volume (ULV) 6-liter flush model represents a 70% savings in water flushed and will cut indoor water use by about 30%.
5. Place a bottle full of stones and water in the tank of your toilet.
It may sound a bit unconventional, but this technique really works, and it won't cost you anything! Fill old soda bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank away from the operating mechanisms.
6. Install a low-flow faucet aerator.
Low-flow faucet aerators are very inexpensive, only about $10. They work by mixing air into the water stream and can reduce your home's water consumption by 50%.
7. Use the dishwasher only when it's full.
One dishwasher cycle uses a tremendous amount of water, so make extra effort to fill it up before you press start.
8. Turn off the faucet while washing dishes.
When you are scrubbing
up the
dishes, simply scrub each dish (with the faucet off), place them aside, and then turn the water on to rinse off the dirt and soap. This uses a lot less water than soaping and scrubbing dishes while the faucet is running.
9. Turn the faucet off while you brush your teeth!
Can you imagine if one person per household throughout the US started keeping to this habit? The water savings would be tremendous. As mentioned above, this is one of the easiest ways to save water, and it is simple to make it into a habit.
10. Be water conscious!
Being water conscious in general while at home is an effective way to save water. Start noticing your trends and habits regarding water usage and change any patterns that are wasteful.
Water Usage Facts
- Most people in North America use 50 to 70 gallons of water indoors each day and about the same amount outdoors, depending on the season.
- Indoors, 3/4 of all water is used in the bathroom.
- In the average home, the toilet accounts for 28% of water use.
- Running a sprinkler for two hours can use up to 500 gallons.
- As much as 150 gallons of water can be saved when washing a car by turning the hose off between rinses.
- Washing a sidewalk or driveway with a hose uses about 50 gallons of water every 5 minutes.
Installing just one water-saving products will help cut down your water bill. Find a reliable plumber to install your new water-saving product.
