Conserving Water Inside Your Home

When it comes to water saving tips for summer a good place to start is inside of your home. By making small changes, you could potentially save a lot of water. Saving water inside of the home can also help prevent plumbing problems and even save you money on your water bill. Here are some suggestions:  

Leak Detection 

On going leak detection is an important step to conserving water. A leaky faucet or running toilet could waste thousands of gallons of water a year! Make it a point to inspect all faucets and showerheads at regular intervals. When it comes to your toilets, remember that the toilet itself will probably last for years, but the inner working parts will need to be replaced about every 4-5 years or so. If you notice your toilet running, phantom flushing, or making strange noises it probably needs some attention. Be proactive and make repairs right away to prevent further waste and damage. It is also important to inspect all water supply lines on a regular basis. These are the water lines that supply water to your water using appliances like your washing machine. Over time these can become brittle and spring leaks. To prevent unnecessary leaks from your supply lines, inspect at regular intervals and replace every 5 years or so. In addition, remember that not all leaks present themselves front and center. Some leaks are hidden behind walls, under floors, and beneath the ground. It is these leaks that can be particularly troublesome, as they can go undetected for some time. This can waste a lot of water, not to mention do some serious damage. Know how to recognize the signs of a hidden leak. Some signs you might have a problem include: the sound of rushing, dripping, or running water, unexplained pools or puddles of water, the smell of mold or mildew, or an unusually high water bill. Call your plumber right away for further diagnostics. The only way to be certain is to have a thorough plumbing inspection.   

Update Old Plumbing Fixtures

Another way you can save water around the house is to update your old plumbing fixtures. If you live in an older home with original plumbing fixtures, chances are there are more efficient options on the market. Older toilets can waste upwards of 5 gallons of water with each flush! In a family of 4, that amounts to a huge waste in water! HET or high efficiency toilets use as little as .5 gallons and up to 1.5 gallons of water, with some having two flush modes, one for liquid and one for solid waste. This can make a huge impact on your water saving efforts. Newer faucets are also designed to use less water. If you aren’t in the market to upgrade your faucets just yet, you may want to consider installing low flow aerators. This can drastically reduce the amount of water you use, without sacrificing water pressure.  

Upgrade Appliances

Water using appliances can be a big source for water waste around the home. Consider your washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, and even your water heater. While these things definitely come with a larger price tag, in the end you could stand to save more in monthly utilities. Consider on demand water heaters for example. While they have a higher price tag, they only use water on an as needed basis, meaning you pay for what you use. You also don’t waste energy continuously heating the water supply, because it is heated on demand. Tankless water heaters are also easier to maintain, repair, and last longer; this makes them a solid investment in your conservation efforts.    In addition, there are many incentives available when purchasing more efficient appliances including cash back allowance and tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. These can help soften the financial burden  of making energy efficient home improvements.   

Some Additional Water Saving Tips for Summer

• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth
• Turn off the faucet while washing your hands
• Use the dishwasher instead of washing by hand, it actually uses less water
• Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads
• Take shorter showers

  It is never too late to start conserving water inside your home. Doing so helps you protect our most precious resource, and also helps you save money as well! Need a little help? Schedule your plumbing inspection today! For more water saving tips for summer and other plumbing tips contact Rooter Hero today!