Water consumption is a growing concern in the United States, and we should all be doing our part to limit the amount of water we use in our homes. That’s why we put together the following tips for how to save water at home!
8 tips for how to save water at home
- 1. Install water-efficient appliances. If you want to save water, the first thing you should look at is the type of appliances you have installed in your home. Look for the EPA’s WaterSense label when you’re purchasing a new dishwasher or laundry machine, and consider installing low-flush toilets,dual-flush toilets and water-efficient faucets.
- 2. Make simple water-saving upgrades. Some of the least expensive and easiest upgrades are also some of the most effective at saving water. These include low flow showerheadsand low flow faucet aerators.
- 3. Fix leaks as soon as possible. The longer you wait to fix a leak, the more water your home will waste. The EPA says that the average home wastes 10,000 gallons of water a year from unattended water leaks. If you want to test for leaks, check your water meter before and after two hours of non-use. If the meter changes, you have a leak somewhere in your home.
- 4. Turn off tap while brushing teeth and shaving. Many people leave the faucet running while they are brushing their teeth or shaving. You can save about 325 gallons of water a month by turning the tap off.
- 5. Shower instead of taking baths. For the most part, showers use less water than baths. This is especially true if you have low-flow shower fixtures installed and you limit your showers to around 4-5 minutes.
- 6. Wash full loads of dishes and laundry. Your dishwasher and laundry machine consume a lot of water, so you want to make sure you’re using them wisely. Try only running both appliances when you have full loads of dishes or laundry.
- 7. Keep a pitcher of water in your refrigerator. The water we waste while waiting for the faucet to reach the right temperature can really add up. You can minimize this by filling up a pitcher or bottle of water and putting it in your refrigerator for future use.
- 8. Thaw food overnight in your refrigerator. Many people thaw food by putting it under running water, which can add up over time. You can avoid this by thawing food in your refrigerator overnight instead.
If you have any questions about how to save water at home, or if you’d like a plumbing system serviced or installed in your home, contact Cabrillo, your San Francisco plumbing, heating and cooling company.