Are You Water-Conscious?
Water is something we’ve all taken for granted. Whether it’s leaving the sink on while brushing our teeth or letting the water drain until it becomes warm enough for our liking, we’re constantly making water an afterthought. It’s time we all do our part to take care of the environment and conserve water! There are innumerable ways to conserve water at home, and we’d like to share some of them with you.
You may be tired of your frightening water bills, or perhaps you are concerned about the environment and water shortages. If you have ever experienced a water shortage, you have likely learned a few tricks to save water.
Using water wisely shows a healthy respect for our planet and its resources. Another bonus is that it saves money! You can’t deny these advantages, so take note of some practical methods of saving water. It’s all about being creative with how you conserve. We at Moffett Plumbing & Air have made a commitment to being as environmentally friendly as possible. This means we use the most efficient products and practices while on the job and in our own homes.
17 Ways to Conserve Water
There are so many ways to save water. Some may be obvious, like closing faucets when you aren’t using them and fixing leaks. You may be surprised at a few other small tips that can save buckets of water. Some of these tips are simply a reminder to adjust certain habits, rather than a brilliant hack. Either way, they will ensure that your water usage is cut down to the bare minimum.
Cut Back on Watering Your Garden
If you allow your grass to grow a little longer than normal, it can slow the rate of evaporation down, so you don’t have to water your lawn as often. If there is a drought in your area, you could stop watering your garden altogether. As winter arrives, your lawn will be restored to its usual state.
Shut Faucets Off Not in Use
We may have the habit of leaving the tap on while we wash our hands or brush our teeth. Only open your faucet when you need to rinse. This may sound petty, but a lot of water is wasted in this way each year.
Repair Leaks
Call a dependable plumbing company to check your pipes regularly for leaks and repair them immediately if they find any. Not only does this waste a lot of water, but it also damages your property. Don’t ignore leaks, no matter how small they are.
Only Use Washing Machines and Dishwashers with Full Loads
By washing more clothes and dishes in each cycle, you use less water. Instead of washing small loads of dirty dishes and clothes, wait until you have enough for a full load, so it is worthwhile.
Rain Barrel Installation
You can install a barrel that collects rainwater for household and garden use. Rain provides an abundance of water; the job is to collect it and use it for tasks that don’t need potable water. Rain barrels are affordable to install and can collect a lot of rainwater.
Reuse Your Water
Not all used water is dirty. For instance, if you rinse vegetables, rinse them over a bucket so you can collect the water. While this water may not be drinkable, you can use it to wash cars or water your garden. You can even reuse this water in your toilet cistern. At any point that you see decent water going down the drain, find a way to collect it and use it somewhere else in your home.
Buy a Pool Cover
Keeping your pool covered prevents evaporation by up to 50%. In addition to that, it reduces the heat loss and saves energy that you use to reheat your pool by trapping the heat in. Pool covers can also offer more safety to homes with pets and children.
Take Your Car to Commercial Car Washes
We know that you can wash your own car. However, commercial car wash companies have eco-friendly, water-wise methods of washing cars efficiently. They may reuse some water or use water-free cleaning methods. We suggest that you only send your car to a car wash if it is dirty.
Use a Dishwasher
Many don’t know this, but washing dishes by hand uses more water than a dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers are more energy-efficient and can save up to 50% less water than manual washing. If you need assistance installing your dishwasher, you can call Moffett Plumbing & Air.
Minimize Garbage Disposal Use
Most homeowners don’t know it, but their garbage disposals use a lot of water to dispose of waste. It also adds to the solid waste in your septic tank. Instead, why not dispose of organic food waste in your garden as compost?
Insulate Your Pipes
Ask your plumber about pre-slit foam pipes that will insulate your water pipes. This is a simple way to get hot water quickly so that you run less water while you wait for it to heat up.
Water Your Garden During the Morning and Avoid Watering When It Is Windy
When you water your garden in the morning or early evening, the low temperatures allow more water to be absorbed by the plants and reduce water loss due to evaporation. When it’s windy, it can blow your sprinklers away from your plants and wastewater.
Consider an Energy-Efficient Washing Machine
There is a big difference between ordinary washing machines and energy-efficient ones. They are built especially so they can use less water and reduce your carbon footprint. You may have to pay more for an energy-efficient model, but you will experience the long-term benefits.
Install Dual Flush Toilets
If you want to replace your toilet, you should consider an ultra-low volume flush model, which can save up to 70% more water than ordinary toilets. You can also install a dual-flush converter which turns your standard toilet into a more energy-efficient one. This ensures that you only use the amount of water you need.
Store Bottled Water in Your Refrigerator
You waste a lot of water when you wait for your running water to cool down. Instead, you keep cool drinking water in your fridge, so you always have cool water on hand.
Repair Leaks
If you’ve heard the drip-drop of a leaking faucet or have a constantly running toilet, don’t forgo fixing it! A leaky faucet that emits 3 drops per minute will waste 104 gallons per year. You can find out just how much water you could be wasting with this drip calculator. A leaky faucet might not seem like a big deal initially, but those drips certainly start to add up. The average leaking toilet will waste around 200 gallons per day. Yep, per day! Over a 30-day period, that’s more than 6,000 gallons per month, adding up to over $70.
Install Efficient Fixtures
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends purchasing plumbing products that bear the “Water Sense” label. You can find products with the Water Sense label on practically any type of plumbing product, from sink faucets and fixtures to shower heads to toilets to dishwashers and washing machines. If it requires water, rest assured Water Sense can help you choose the best one.
Don’t feel like you have to make a dramatic change in just over a weekend. If you’re on a tight budget, start out small by installing new fixtures, and then gradually move down your list to ensure your home is water efficient.
Everyone Can Save Water If They Try
Have you ever wondered about the efficiency of your home? Are there any undetected leaks? What products could I use that would be better for the environment? Where could I conserve water? When you’re a local of Orange County, and you schedule your free home water audit, rest assured your local team of OC plumbers will help.
You don’t have to make big changes to make a big difference. As you can see, simply repairing a leak or installing water-conserving fixtures and appliances go a long way! For more tips on how to conserve water and for fun water facts, check out Water Is Awesome.
Our friendly plumbing professionals in Orange, CA can save water by applying some of these useful tips. With minimal effort, you can cut utility bill costs while protecting the planet from natural resource exploitation. Contact Moffett Plumbing & Air and speak to our plumbers about installing water conservation fixtures and devices. We are here to help you!