With Spring just around the corner (we hope) here are some timely reminders of simple steps you can take to use less water and lower your water bill, courtesy of our friends at Change of Address.org
Water is so essential to life. We use it so many ways without really stopping to think of its consumption. Nobody as a rule would sit down and measure how many gallons they used when taking a shower. There are lawns that need to be watered, dishes to wash and so many other ways we run to the faucet (tap) for countless reasons during a day. Each reason is necessary, but at times, we can do small things to cut back on our usage. Below are ten ways we can cut our water usage and cost.
Shorter Showers. It is so easy to lose track of time in the shower. That warm water just feels so good that time can slip by without much notice. Just pausing to be sure you keep the time to a reasonable amount, five to ten minutes instead of twenty, can save a great deal of water.
Check Pipes For Leaks. Making a routine inspection of water pipes can help you find any places that have slow drips or leaks. Those amounts can add up very fast when it is dripping constantly. It will require checking places like underneath the sinks and counters, but can really save water if you put an end to one leak.
Check Toilets For Leaks. You might have a crack in the water container or a hose that is dripping. If the water is dripping on a floor, to where it dries without being noticed, this might never have been stopped. Feeling around the hoses will help to tell if there is any moisture.
Install Water Saving Shower Heads. There are all kinds of new and helpful forms of shower heads that reduce the amount of water used during a shower. They are easy to install and you won’t need a plumber to complete the work. With all the varieties there are to chose from, you can easily find one that will add to your shower experience, and yet, save water at the same time.
Put Plastic Bottles In Toilet Tanks. This is another great way to save water. Putting a plastic bottle filled with water in the tank will reduce the water needed to fill up the reservoir. However it will not decrease the ability to flush in any way. It just cuts down on the volume of water needed.
Only Wash Dishes And Clothes With Full Loads. It can be so easy to toss a few clothes in the washer to do for laundry. The same can happen with dishes. We might just want them out of the way for many reasons. But they still use a great deal of water. So, washing only full loads will improve that problem.
Water Lawns Only As Needed. Some people may have their lawns set on automatic timings for watering. They don’t always bother to change them when the summer passes and the lawns don’t require as much water. All that extra water will be saved, if you do cut back to only when it is actually needed.
Don’t Run the Hose Constantly While Washing Your Car. This is one of those habits that can be hard to stop. Simply using a bit of control while hosing down the car can save a lot of water.
Clean Driveways With A Broom. If you have gotten in the habit of hosing down your driveway to clean it, perhaps this is a habit you should break. It might take longer to use a broom, but in the long run it will still clean the driveway. That will save the water for other purposes that are more necessary.
Insulate Water Pipes. Putting insulation on the hot water pipes will make sure the water stays warm when it comes from the water heater. This will cut down on how much time you have to run the water for a bath or shower to get it warm out of the faucet. That could possibly save quite a few gallons.
None of the above will require any special skills. They are very simply ways that can possibly represent some great savings on your water bill.
