How to Save 25% on your Water Bill

If you knew you could save up to 25% on your water bill each month would you be interested in learning how? Of course you would! In recent years, states in drought conditions have issued mandatory conservation procedures to cut water usage by 25%. Many new homes are already built with water conservation in mind, but for all other homes, there are some simple DIY steps homeowners can take to save money while also aiding conservation efforts. 

LEAKS

This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s surprising just how much water can be lost thanks to a slow, seemingly unharmful leak. Every home with plumbing, new or old, is susceptible to a water leak. Without quick repair you’ll not only be wasting water but potentially causing costly water damage to your home. Some leaks are easily noticeable, such as faucet drips, but others are hard to detect, like toilet leaks. Look out for ripples in a toilet bowl when it’s not in use – that typically means there is a water leak. This problem can be fixed by replacing the toilet’s flapper valve.

BATHROOM

When possible, take a shower before a bath. Showers use only a third of the water a bath normally takes. Shoot for 6 minutes or less and consider adding a low-flow showerhead. Low-flow showerheads can save you around 1-4 GPM (gallons per minute) more than traditional showerheads.

Turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth. Consider replacing old faucets with new efficient models that can cut GPM by half. Old faucets run around 3.5 GPM and newer models run around 1.5 GPM. But buying a new faucet can get expensive, so if you plan on keeping your old one, replace the aerator - which can restrict flow from 1.5GPM down to 0.5 GPM. CityWIDE can help you install any new bathroom plumbing fixtures if the DIY route isn’t your thing. 

Old toilets made before 1993 waste up to 3.5 GPF (Gallons Per Flush) where any toilets made after use only 1.6 GPF, and the newest efficient toilets use only 1.28 GPF. A lot of money can be spent replacing old toilets, but you can replace the guts of your toilet tank with a new dual-flush converter that cuts water usage down to 0.8 GPF. Home department stores carry these converter kits and have easy to follow instructions. If these are out of your budget, you can place a brick in the inside of the tank, the brick will displace up to half a gallon of water and you have the same flush power and less water usage.

 

LAUNDRY

Washing machines use large amount of water with each load. For top loading washing machines, washing full loads instead of small loads can maximize efficiency. If the load is small, make sure to adjust the setting for the suitable load. New front load water efficient washing machines weigh the load and use the water needed. You might also consider replacing your washing machine with a newer high efficiency model.

For help with leaks, installation of new appliances/fixtures, or any other plumbing issue, call the experts at CityWIDE or schedule service online.