Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls: 10 Residential Plumbing Tips to Reduce Your Water Bill

Residential plumbing might not be the first thing you think of when trying to save money in your budget, but it can be really helpful! By optimizing your water usage and making a few small changes, you can save hundreds of dollars per year. Try implementing some of these residential plumbing tips in your home and see how much you can save!

1. Keep Drinking Water in the Fridge

When you want a cold drink, waiting for the faucet to get cold can waste more water than you realize. Instead, fill up a pitcher or bottle and store it in the fridge. Then you’ll always have fresh cold water ready when you need it.

2. Shorten Shower Time

This is a common piece of advice but the details can be surprising. Reducing your shower time by just 60 seconds can help you save 1,000 gallons of water in a year. This can save you up to $100 per year. Now multiply that by every member of your household and you’ll see why this is such a popular residential plumbing tip.

3. Turn Off the Tap

When you’re shaving or brushing your teeth, be sure to turn off the faucet. If you need to rinse your razor or toothbrush, fill up a small cup when you get started and use that as you need it.

4. Try a Low-Flow Shower Head

A low-flow shower head is one that restricts the flow of water while you shower to less than 2.5 gallons per minute. You can also decide if you want an aerating shower head which mixes the water with air to give a mist-like spray.

5. Wait for Full Loads

Properly loading the dishwasher means you can fit in many more items in a single load. Instead of running half a load twice per week, wait and do a full load once a week. The dishwasher doesn’t know how many dishes are inside, so it will use the full amount of water no matter what.

6. Avoid Hand-Washing Dishes

Yes, some dishes are not safe to put in the dishwasher and must be hand-washed. Many people also prefer to rinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Instead of running the tap while do this, fill up the sink with a little bit of water and clean them that way.

7. Fix Leaks ASAP

A leaking faucet may seem like an obvious water-waster, but every little drip adds up. If you put off fixing it for too long, you could end up wasting several gallons. Make it a priority to fix leaking faucets as soon as you notice them.

8. Install Water-Efficient Toilets

It might sound strange, but toilet technology has come a long way in the last few decades. Modern options can use even less than 1.3 gallons per flush. If it’s been awhile since the toilets in your home were upgraded, now might be the time.

9. Try Composting

When clearing away the dinner dishes, it’s common to put the leftover food scraps through the garbage disposal. However, this feature can use several gallons of water every day. Instead, save those scraps and use them to feed your garden.

10. Watch Your Bill

Keep an eye on your water bill every month. If you notice the cost is increasing, double check your residential plumbing system to ensure everything is working as it should. If you don’t find any reason for the price increase, call your local water company to come out and reread your meter.

Saving Money, Saving the Planet

Implementing these residential plumbing tips in your home is not only a great way to save money throughout the year. It’s also a great way to do your part to help the planet. Water conservation is important for all of us. To learn more about how Hulsey (a Blue Flow Company) can help you make the most of your residential plumbing, please contact us today.