Most of us don’t pay attention to exactly how much our habits affect our water bills. Do you know which costs more, washing your dishes by hand or using a dishwasher? Well, these habits can add up fast, and with a few changes, you may find you’re saving a lot on your water bill, and this will add up.
- Fix Leaks and Drips
You already know a leaking faucet is wasting money. But most people assume it’s inconsequential. Have you ever thought about exactly how much water is dripping?
Well, if your faucet were to drip twice a minute, that would be about 2,880 drops a day. This would add up to about 68 gallons wasted in a year, and the more drops, the more this adds up very quickly.
Though each drop lost may be inconsequential, this adds up quite quickly, and each one means a small but measurable cost on your water bill. So, just take a moment to look around your home and look for leaking faucets and other water fixtures.
Generally, fixing these leaks takes little effort and only basic hand tools you likely already own. It is unlikely to require the help of a plumber.
- Upgrade Your Washer
For most households, a washing machine accounts for about 16% of your home’s water usage. This makes it one of the biggest potential sources of water savings in your home as well as its highest cost.
If you’re using an old washing machine, you will likely spend much more on the water than you need to be. Modern Energy Star and WaterSense washing machines often use about 1/3 less water than traditional models to run.
Luckily these machines are the standard varieties sold at most stores now. One last tip, if your machine is top-loading, try to search for a front-loading model that uses significantly less water.
- Aerate Your Faucets
If you do not already have faucet aerators, you may not know what these simple devices do. These are small perforated pieces of metal that introduce air into the water stream. These faucets use less water than a plain faucet yet perform as well.
It will provide a more forceful flow with less splashing and water wastage. They are a simple way to lower your water usage every time you use your faucet and are cheap and easy to install.
- Use Your Dishwasher
Many people believe that washing their dishes by hand is the most efficient way to clean their dishes. However, this is typically a mistake because an Energy Star dishwasher uses only four gallons of water a cycle.
In contrast, washing your dishes by hand often takes about twenty-gallons of water every time. So, every time you wash your dishes by hand accounts for about five equivalent rounds of dishwashing.
This is a pretty hefty addition to your water bill, so next time consider using a dishwasher instead. You might even save some time as well.
- Change Your Shower Habits
Your typical, conventional showerhead uses about five gallons every minute. So though your typical ten-minute shower may seem like a pretty small expense, this makes up a significant part of your overall water usage.
The first way to reduce this expense is to use a low-flow waterhead, and these can cut your water flow in half to 2 ½ gallons or even less. Second, cutting your overall shower time or habits can reduce water usage. Consider soaping up with the water off and then turning it back on.
- Convert Your Toilets to Low Flow
Finally, your toilet uses a large amount of water every day, especially if it is an old model. A standard flow toilet uses about 7 gallons per flush. In contrast, a low flow model takes about 1.6.
Replacing a standard toilet with a low flow model is generally an easy home project. However, you can just retrofit your toilet with new hardware to make it much more efficient for an even easier project.
Conclusion
Just a small difference in water usage every day will add up fast. If you can shave ten dollars every month, it will add up to $120 a year. So, just consider if you can implement these tips and get started today!
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