Several household chores require high usage of water daily. Hence, many people are likely to waste water while carrying out basic everyday tasks, which can be incredibly costly. From washing the dishes to brushing your teeth every morning, you may not realize how much water you are wasting, which may show up in your monthly bills. Therefore, taking care of your water usage is an excellent way to save hundreds of dollars in water bills and help the planet at the same time.
Here is a list of ways you could be wasting water at home:
You Have an Old Toilet
According to a survey conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it was observed that the bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water that makes up to 27% of household water per day. Similarly, older toilets are likely to consume between 3.5 and 7 gallons of water per flush. On the other hand, a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day.
You Hose Down Your Driveway or Patio Instead of Sweeping it
You may notice how excessive layers of dust have piled up on your driveway or patio every week and may assume that giving it a quick rinse would be great. However, washing the outdoor area with a hose often may waste between 6 and 24 gallons of water per minute. Therefore, instead of washing your driveway or patio every seven days, consider sweeping it with a broom.
You Haven’t Installed a Shower Aerator
Without a shower aerator, you are likely to waste up to 100 gallons of water while bathing. Therefore, installing a new shower head or a high-efficiency faucet aerator is a great way to save water.
You Run Your Dishwasher When It’s Not Full
Sometimes, washing a spoon and a plate may feel like a huge task, that you may prefer running your dishwasher when it’s not full of dirty dishes. As a result, your dishwasher will consume a lot of water and energy while it’s not fully loaded with dishes. Therefore, you should wait until you have enough dirty dishes piling up on your sink to run your dishwasher and consider washing a few items by hand to save water.
You Leave the Faucet Running While You Brush Your Teeth
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your bathroom faucet can run up to 2 gallons of water per minute. Similarly, keeping the faucet on while brushing your teeth for two minutes can waste around 4 gallons of water every day. Therefore, turning off the faucet when you don’t need water can save more than 200 gallons of water per month.
You Wait for the Tap Water to Get Cold During the Summer
During summers, you may want a cool glass of water that may require you to run the faucet for 2 to 3 minutes until the water is cold. As a result, you are likely to waste a significant amount of water every day. According to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the kitchen faucet is capable of flowing half a gallon of water per minute. On the other hand, a faucet installed during the 1990s may flow up to 2.2 gallons of water per minute. To save water while satisfying your cold water cravings, you need to fill up a jug or container of drinking water from the faucet and store it in the fridge.
You Plant the Wrong Kind of Flowers or Shrubs for Your Climate
Living in a dry and arid region requires a large amount of water for plants and shrubs, leading to a waste of water and natural resources. Instead of planting such flowers and shrubs in your garden, consider having plants that do not require a high intake of water.
You Water Your Plants in the Afternoon
Early morning or evening is the best time to water an outdoor plant, as watering in the afternoon may result in water loss through evaporation. Being the warmest time of the day, it is not the ideal time to water the plants.
You Put Off Repairing Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets can be very frustrating that you may end up delaying their fixture. As a result, it can cost you hundreds of dollars and waste hundreds of gallons of water per day. Therefore, your best bet is to repair your leaky faucets as soon as possible to avoid wasting water.
You Throw a Few Clothes in the Washing Machine
A high-efficient washing machine is capable of consuming between 8 and 12 gallons of water per cycle. Similarly, washing just a few clothing pieces while your washing machine is not fully loaded may result in wasting a lot of water and money on water bills every month. Therefore, you need to wait until you have enough clothes to fill up the washing machine before you run it.
You Own a Pool, But You Don’t Cover It
Filling up a pool without using a pool cover can contaminate your water, and you may end up draining it after every swim. On the other hand, an outdoor temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit can evaporate your water in a few days. Therefore, cover up your pool to avoid wasting hundreds of gallons of water.
If you realize that your water consumption is low yet your water bills keep increasing every month, it is best to contact Mesa Plumbing to find a solution for your water system.