As the summer wraps up, you might think that your water usage will drop considerably and get your water bill back on budget. However, that is not always the case as the cost of everything, including water, is on the rise. But there are many simple ways for you and every member of your household to pitch in and save water and money. Not only will it take some of the pressure off your household budget, but it will also help the planet by conserving a very precious natural resource.
It’s Time For A Change
With the transition from summer to fall, why not embrace a few other changes that will help you save money and water? Starting with your morning routine, you can save hundreds of gallons of water each month simply by turning off the water while you brush your teeth. And once you get in the habit, you will also be saving equally as much water with your new bedtime routine. Most bathroom faucets use about 3 gallons of water in the two minutes you spend brushing your teeth, so jump on board to save 120 gallons of water each month per person in your home.
Next, commit to saving water during the day with these smart tips for your household chores. First, only run the dishwasher and clothes washer when they are fully loaded. Washing just a few items in either machine wastes a significant amount of water and energy. In addition, give up the bad habit of washing dishes by hand. Your dishwasher will use around five gallons of water to clean a whole load of dishes. To hand-wash, the same number of dishes would consume around 30 gallons of water at the least.
Finally, give up washing your cars at home. Your garden hose uses about eight gallons of water per minute. So ten minutes of running the hose to wash and rinse is about 80 gallons. However, when you use a drive-thru carwash, that number is reduced to about 15 gallons. And in most cases, car washes have water recycling capability to save even more water.
Make Water Conservation A Family Project
It can be hard to teach children the value and importance of saving water. However, when you make the process a fun game or challenge, they remain interested long enough to learn some essential habits for life. Keep track of water-saving activates and see who can be the hero of your house each week. Also, turn looking for water leaks into a very essential and valuable scavenger hunt. Walk everyone through the house and discuss where you should look for water leaks. Include places like the water heater, washer and dishwasher hoses and connections, and around toilets. Then set a time each week for everyone to go in search of household water leaks. Hopefully, you never have a winner, other than the environment that benefits from every household not wasting water from leaks.
When To Call A Professional
Everyone in the house should also know when it is time to call a licensed plumber for help. Whenever you locate a water leak or suspect a hidden water leak in your home, a plumber should be your first call. Hidden leaks are obviously not visible, but you will notice other hints that there is a problem. For example, low water pressure, contamination in your water, or old moist areas on a wall or floor are all indications of a water leak that needs attention. Call (706) 303-0987 for help 24/7 from the licensed plumbers at Drain Surgeon.
