Are you taking steps to conserve water this summer? If not, now is a great time to start. As the temperatures heat up, the demand for more water follows suit. Whether you are trying to cut back on your monthly utility bills or simply trying to practice environmentally conscious habits, you can save water in virtually every area of your house:
- In the Bathroom: When it comes to your bathroom, stick to showers not baths to reduce your water usage by 10 to 20 gallons! Take it one step further and invest in a modern low-flow showerhead. Speaking of modern plumbing fixtures, make sure your toilet is up to date. Older versions use about 6 gallons per flush compared to the 1.6 gallons in newer models.
- In the Kitchen: It may seem strange, but it’s a good idea to use your dishwasher instead of hand washing your summer dishes. Try to wait until the load is full, however, before you run it. You can also save water when you prepare your meals. Wash all of your vegetables and fruit together in a large bowl, thaw meat on the counter instead of under running water and consider using the microwave to heat food that you’d normally boil.
- In the Laundry Room: With summer in full swing, the laundry room is a busy place. First, be sure you have an energy efficient washing machine that only uses the needed amount of water for each load. Second, try to avoid the permanent press setting if possible, as this will eliminate extra water needed for the final rinse cycle.
- In the Lawn & Garden: When it comes to watering your landscape, do so in the early morning hours when less water will evaporate. Also, be sure your sprinklers aren’t aimed in wasted areas, like the street or sidewalk. Besides being smart and conservative with your irrigation habits, you can also be strategic about your landscape design. Using bark mulch around your flowers and shrubs can lock in needed moisture and reduce your watering demands. Finally, if you want to give your driveway a quick cleanup, grab the broom or blower instead of a hose.
Last but not least, be sure to check all of your faucets for leaks to ensure you aren’t wasting costly drips of water on a continual basis. This also includes leaking toilets and the outside hose. Small leaks may seem insignificant but they can rack up your water bill exponentially if not repaired promptly. In fact, one drop per second wastes about 2700 gallons of water per year!
For more tips on how to save water and maximize your plumbing efficiency, call the experts at Metro Septic and Plumbing.
