Water saving tips and ideas

Water conservation equals savings

Consider some of these water saving tips and conservation ideas for your home. According to the U.S Dept of Energy, on average water use alone can account for 13% to 17% of a homes total utility bill.

However when most people think of conservation, they usually think of electricity or natural gas. Water conservation at home is often overlooked.

It's true that utility providers tend to charge higher rates than local governments or municipalities. However water is one of the most wasted resources, and waste equals wasted money. Consider these water saving tips and conservation ideas;

• Showering and saving water
• Water saving tips for toilets
• Water conservation tips for sinks
• Water saving ideas for outdoors

Start in the bathroom

More than half of household water is typically used in the bathroom. In fact showering alone accounts for up to 20% of total indoor water use. Here are a few simple and cost effective water conservation tips and ideas for your bathrooms.

Showering tips

• You can save an estimated 150 gallons of water a month by simply cutting your shower (or singing session) short by just two or three minutes.

• Traditional shower heads can use between 5 and 7 gallons of water per minute. Newer water saving shower heads use just 2.5 gallons per minute and some even less and all at a cost of just a few dollars. This alone can save up to 600 gallons a week.
  

• To save even more water, some of the best shower heads are low flow models with shut off valves. There equally as inexpensive and allow you to pause warm water while your shampooing, conditioning or lathering.
  
  

Water saving tips for your toilets

Taking your toilets for granted can lead to needlessly flushing money down your toilet bowls. Here are a few more water saving tips and ideas.

• Before using your toilet as a bathroom trash can remember this, each flush can use anywhere from 1.6 to 5 gallons of water.
  
  
• Periodically check your toilets for leaks. Even the smallest leaks can have a big impact on your water bill. Fixing a toilet leak is fast and easy.
  
  
• If your toilet keeps running, replacing the fill valve may be necessary. Or a new toilet flush valve maybe needed if there is a toilet flapper leak. A new fill valve and flush valve prevents future leaks and immediately improves performance. Both are very inexpensive and easy to install.
  
  
• If your toilets were manufactured before 1995 then it may be time to consider replacing them. New low flow toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush.

• Newer water saving toilets as well as dual flush toilets use even less than 1.6 gallons per flush. Today some of the best flushing toilets use new technologies to provide an even more complete flush while using less water.
  

Tips for kitchen and bathroom sinks

• Turn off the water while shaving and brushing your teeth. This alone can save up to 300 gallons of water per month in a typical household with 4 or more adults.
  

• When your washing dishes in the sink, consider filling the sink with washing water instead of leaving the kitchen faucet on.
  

• Low flow faucet aerators effortlessly conserve water without reducing water pressure. These bathroom and kitchen sink additions are simply screwed on, there also incredibly inexpensive.
  

Other water saving tips and ideas

• If you spot a sink or faucet leak, grab a wrench and fix it immediately. Even the smallest faucet leaks can waste 150 gallons of water in just a week.
  

• Wash full loads of clothes whenever possible. Remember even if the correct level of water is used for each load, there will be an extra cost of water heating for each load washed with warm or hot water.
  

• Use cold water whenever the particular fabrics being washed allow. This will avoid the extra electricity or natural gas expense of water heating altogether.

Water conservation tips for the outdoors

• Don't exceed watering recommendations for plants and shrubs, if in doubt consult with your local nursery. Most homeowners are surprised to learn that more plants and shrubs die from over watering than anything else.
  

• Take advantage of the cool and moist air during the early morning and late afternoon when watering the lawn. Due to the natural heat of the sun during the middle of the day, much of the water intended for the lawn will evaporate before it ever penetrates the soil. 
  

• Use a spray nozzle for your garden hose, especially one with a shut off valve. This will reduce the flow rate of water while tending to the lawn or cleaning the car.