A person uses 80-100 gallons of water in and around the house each day in the U.S. Less than 1% of it is water we drink. There are many ways, across all the ways we need water, to conserve water around your home. Here are a few that are pretty easy. You can help the environment along with decrease your water bill.
Shut Off Running Water when Possible
Turn off the faucet while doing things like washing hands or brushing teeth. You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it’s easy to turn off the faucet for a few seconds, cut it back on for a few seconds, and turn it off again, just having it on when you need the water. Also keep in mind how long your showers are. Long showers can use many gallons of water that you don’t need to.
Check for and Fix Leaks
Pay attention to any leaks and regularly take the time to check all faucets, spigots and pipes around the house. Fix any leaks as soon as you find one. This is good advice for water usage and the life of plumbing and fixtures.
Fix a Running Toilet
Much like a leak, this can go ignored and procrastinated, but it’s a costly problem and a simple fix. The first step is replace the flapper. To put in a new flapper, shut off the water to the toilet and flush the tank until it’s drained. Take out the old flapper from the base of the tank and on the chain. Put in the new flapper. Turn the water on and let it reenter the tank.
If the flapper isn’t the fix, or there’s multiple problems with, say, a very old toilet, it may be time to buy a new toilet and an energy- and water-efficient toilet while you’ve got to get a new one anyway.
Run Full Loads in Washers
For the dishwasher and the laundry, make sure they are full before running a load. If you can use energy-saving or water-saving settings, that’s good, too. Similar to the commode, when it’s time to buy new appliances, look into energy-saving models or machines with are adjustable with load size and water use.
Staying up to date with appliance upkeep and maintenance helps, too. This can stop leaks, inefficient running and the longevity of the machine.
Have Proper Insulation
Exposed plumbing pipes need the right type and level of insulation. This is especially true in attics and basements. With no or improper insulation, water takes longer to heat, which means you let it run longer and waste more.
Use Sprinklers Early in the Morning
If you water gardens or lawns, run sprinklers early in the morning, especially in Carolina summers. Putting water down before sun and heat bakes in means more of the water goes to the plants instead of evaporating very quickly. Try to keep sprinklers from watering driveways, sidewalks or roads.
Cold Water in the Fridge
All of us, it’s quite likely, should be drinking more water. Fill up a pitcher with water and keep it in the refrigerator. It’s cold and ready when you want it. This will keep you from running the tap more often.
Think About Water in Cooking
You can consider some ways to use less water or reuse some water while cooking. If you boil vegetables, try steaming vegetables. This uses much less water, a very small amount for the steaming. If you’re boiling rice or pasta, get a configuration which lets you steam food over the boiling pot of pasta or rice. If you’re making sauces or soups, you might be able to use starchy pasta water for the water in those recipes.
Install a New Shower Head
A low-water flow shower head can save plenty of water every time someone uses the shower. Some models run at 1.8 gallons per minute. An average shower head uses 2.1 gallons a minute.
Shorter Showers
Using the math above lets you know how much water you can conserve if you cut showers down by a few minutes per use. Maybe not every shower, but most of the time, consider getting in and out a few minutes faster. Another step is turning the water off while lathering, shampooing or shaving.
Native Gardens
About 33% of home water is used watering lawns and gardens. It’s healthy to have a pleasant, maybe even productive and purposeful, garden and yard. Consider making some or all of the garden native to the ecological area, though. If plants are native to the normal habitat, they need far less water. Native plants help your yard be healthier, take less maintenance overall and are better for native animals and other life; so this is a benefit in more than just saving water.
Use a Nozzle
Put an easy-to-use nozzle or shut-off valve on your garden hose. This will help you not waste water, to the average of about five gallons a minute. If left to run, a garden hose can run unchecked for minutes. A nozzle or valve is an easy way to control this and use water only when you’re needing it for cleaning, watering, fun or whatever it is.
Use a Compost Bin
A garbage disposal can be quite convenient and helpful, but it uses a lot of water. A compost bin might be a good choice for your home. It’s better for the environment. It will save water and energy usage. There are many interesting benefits to having a compost bin or pile.
South End Water Filtration specializes in HALO Water Filter products including the HALO H2 Zero Whole Home Water Filter. HALO systems solve hard water problems, give your family clear, great-tasting water and are totally maintenance free. We’re just a click away to help and answer any questions. South End Plumbing and South End Water Filtration will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-486-1988 or contact us online to schedule a visit.