On average, a person uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. That number is staggering and doesn’t even account for leaks and unexpected emergencies. With utility prices on the rise, it is no surprise that finding ways to conserve is becoming a larger priority. If you want to save money on your water bill, consider these seven suggestions.
The Trouble with Toilets
The number one use of household water is the porcelain throne. In some homes, use of the toilet makes up for one third of the indoors annual water consumption, and even at the low end of the average, the toilet is responsible for 20%. Old toilets are especially notorious, using approximately 3.5 gallons per flush. Fortunately, the EPA put their foot down in 1994, standardizing low-flow units with flush rates closer to 1.6 gallons.
If you want to save money on your water bill, the first step is to check to make sure that all your toilets are of the low-flow variety. You will also want to check for any leaking, costing you money while you’re sleeping. The way to test for toilet leaks is by adding a few drops of food coloring to the unit’s tank. If you find color in the toilet bowl after letting the unit sit undisturbed overnight, a leak is indicated. Check your fill mechanism or rubber flapper to discover what needs to be replaced to give you a better seal.
Singing in the Shower
The next big spender when it comes to water consumption in the home is the shower. On average, use of the shower makes up 17% of home water usage. Taking shorter showers, though not enjoyable when the water is the perfect temperature on a chilly morning, is an effective way to save money on your water bill.
You can also do so by collecting the water that goes to waste as you let your shower come to temperature. If you’re in the habit of letting your shower run a bit to let it warm up before you get in it, simply collect that water in a bucket. This is a great resource for watering your houseplants or shrubs.
Get a Head Start
Speaking of showers, you can further save money on your water bill by making sure that your shower head is as efficient as possible. Shower heads from before 1992 were not regulated for efficiency to the level that modern units are, using twice as much water with each use. If you have older shower heads, you can amass big savings by replacing them with more efficient models.
You can test your shower head’s efficiency by timing how long it takes to fill a gallon bucket from your shower head. Rates of 20 seconds or less indicate that replacement is in order. The ideal shower head has a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm.
Look for Leaks
Leaks are insidious water wasters, and if you seriously want to save money on your water bill, you’ll make hunting them down a priority. A single leak, at the rate of one drip per second, can waste up to 2,082 gallons of water in a year. Leaks can arise in any appliance that uses water, so thoroughly inspect your plumbing, spigots, shower heads, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, and water heater.
Take a Load Off
While it may seem counterintuitive, it is actually more efficient to run your dishwasher and washing machine before they get too full. Appliances that are crammed full cannot complete a thorough clean, and if the job is done poorly enough, the load must be run again, wasting even more water. That being said, it is more effective (and better on the appliance) to run one full load as opposed to two half-full loads. Use discretion when you fill your dishwasher and washing machine.
You might also be interested to know that washing dishes by hand uses more water than running a reasonable dishwasher load, as much as nine times more water. If you don’t have a dishwater but still want to save money on your water bill, fill the sink with sudsy water and wash everything down before rinsing. Do not let the water run.
Look to the Lawn
If you want to save money on your water bill, use discretion about when you run your sprinklers or hose. Watering your plants when the sun is high almost defeats the purpose, as most of the water will evaporate before the plants can soak it up. Dawn and dusk are better times of day to water.
Invest in a Hybrid Hot Water Heater
While this choice is more likely to save you money on your energy bill than your water bill, we’re all for savings where you can find them. Approximately 20% of a home’s energy expenditures come from heating its water. Installing a highly efficient hybrid hot water heater, though initially expensive, can offer you significant savings over the long term.
