How To Reduce Your Home Water Usage

Pic by Mark Lee

Summertime puts a huge strain on towns and cities when it comes to supplying water to their citizens. Not only can restrictions be placed on the amount of water a household is allowed to use, but the costs of using that water may rise quite steeply.

Using less water leaves the entire environment in better shape, and you save money too! And, invariably, people use—and lose—far more water than they realize.

Limit What You Do At Home

Limiting what you do in the home is the number-one way to save water. For instance, you could do quite a few small things around the house that, when combined, add to big water savings:

• Wash larger loads of clothes and dishes; this saves a lot more water than you may initially realize. Letting things pile up for an extra day is actually a great thing.
•  Conserve your bathroom water by not using your toilet as a waste bin, and not allowing the sink to run as you shave, brush your teeth, wash your air filters, and other things you use water for.
•  Go ahead and recycle water. Have you cooked any pasta lately? Use that leftover water for your plants and garden. Rinsing vegetables? The same principle applies.

Keep Functioning, Leak-Free Pipes

The leaks you hear and see are typically only minor annoyances compared to the ones you cannot hear and will never see. Leaking pipes under the house, in the basement, etc., can wreak havoc on a home and end up costing a lot more than a few dollars tacked onto the bill. We’re talking about mold and mildew, dry rot, foundation damage, and total pipe replacement if left unchecked.

Investing in leak detection is a surefire way to keep your pipes in working order, not only saving water by saving the daily liters, but also by safeguarding your future. Professional services use cutting-edge equipment and methods to detect even the slightest leak, even if it’s meters underground.

Upgrade Where Needed

Although this is a financial expenditure, it’s well worth it over the long haul. Look at low-flow shower and sink fixtures, as well as toilet tank features, and even items for your kitchen sink. The aerators and the actual pipe setups do the work of a lot of water while only using a fraction.

The precautions, tweaks and upgrades you can make are easy, inexpensive, and they will all undoubtedly help you to save water this summer.

Written by guest blogger, Sarah Brinkley.