If your household utility bills seem to be getting more expensive, you may be thinking about ways to reduce them. A great bill to start focusing on is your water bill. Below, we will share some of our best methods for reducing your water bill and freeing up some funds in your budget.
1. Upgrade Your Habits
One of the simplest ways to reduce water consumption without spending money is to be more mindful of your habits. If you leave the water on while brushing your teeth, change your habits so that you turn it off while you’re brushing. If you hand wash your dishes, turn off the water while you’re scrubbing them to prevent waste. There are many habit changes you can likely make to reduce consumption.
2. Get Low-Flow Fixtures
If you want to invest a little money in reducing your water consumption, one of the best things to buy is low-flow fixtures. Low-flow fixtures have integrated aerators that mix air with water when water comes out of the fixture. This allows them to maintain the same pressure while using much less water. You can find low-flow showerheads, faucets, kitchen sinks, and much more. The great part about this method is that once you set it up, you don’t have to think about it. You can go about your everyday business and reduce your water consumption in the process.
3. High-Efficiency Toilets
One other notable product you can use to reduce your water usage is a high-efficiency toilet. Modern high-efficiency toilets use about 1.28 gallons per flush, while standard toilets use about 1.6 gallons. Outdated toilets that are over 40 years old can use between six and seven gallons per flush. Even if you don’t want to invest in a high-efficiency toilet, upgrading that outdated toilet can do wonders for reducing your annual water bills.
4. Motion Sensor Faucets
Another viable option is a motion sensor faucet. These are very popular in commercial facilities to help save water. They work by having a sensor underneath the faucet head that detects movement. When it detects movement, the faucet turns on. When movement is not detected, the faucet shuts off. This allows you to use your faucet without worrying about turning the handles on or off. While these do come at a steeper upfront price, they can be very convenient when it comes to putting forth a little effort to save a large amount on household water bills.
5. Routine Plumbing Inspections
One method you always want to add to your arsenal is routine plumbing inspections. You should have annual inspections to help detect any plumbing leaks. While it’s easy to notice a leak when you have a burst pipe or a leaky faucet, a leak behind one of your walls is not as obvious. Our team of expert plumbers will test the pressure in all your piping to identify any areas where leaks exist, so we can repair them before they get any worse.
6. Repair Problems as Soon as Possible
An important action to always take when you realize something is wrong with your plumbing system is to get prompt repair service. Even minor issues, like a dripping faucet or running toilet, can waste water over time. It’s best to get service to remedy the problem before it gets any worse. Letting plumbing problems go will lead to more damage to your home, which will be more expensive to repair in the future.
7. Harvest Rainwater
Another effective method for reducing your household’s water consumption is to harvest rainwater. Rainwater can be beneficial for activities such as irrigating your lawn, watering your garden, and cleaning your car. Utilizing a simple rain barrel beneath your gutter downspout is an excellent way to collect rainwater.
8. Greywater Recycling
If you want to take a water-saving step forward, you can invest in a greywater recycling system for your home. This system uses greywater waste from your sinks, showers, and appliances for outdoor activities like irrigating your lawn and watering your garden. These systems allow you to reuse all the water from your home, except for the water from your toilets, for other outdoor purposes. When you’re reusing water, you don’t have to rely on new water coming in and increasing your water bill.
9. Upgrade Your Appliances
If you’re alright with spending some money upfront to reduce your water consumption over the long term, a great place to start is with your appliances. Any appliances that use water, such as your clothes washer and dishwasher, should be ENERGY STAR-certified. These appliances use less water compared to standard models. Even better, modern dishwashers can handle dirty dishes without any pre-rinsing, so you don’t have to waste water before running them through a wash cycle.
10. Use a Smart Irrigation System
If you irrigate your lawn to keep it looking beautiful throughout the spring and summer months, you’ll want to invest in a timer or smart irrigation system to save money on your water bills. Timers are great for consistent watering without overdoing it. You can take it a step further with a smart irrigation system that integrates with your local weather data to adjust watering based on the amount of rain your area receives. For example, if it rains all day, your smart irrigation system won’t turn on to water your lawn because it already has enough water for the day.
11. Consider Drought-Resistant Landscaping
You don’t have to sacrifice the appearance of your landscape to save money on your water bills. Instead, opt for drought-resistant landscaping plants that need much less water. Not only will you spend less money watering them, but many of these plants also need minimal maintenance on your part to stay looking great throughout the entire year.
12. Pressure-Reducing Valve
The main water supply line entering your home often has a pressure higher than necessary for your household needs. Often, installing a pressure-reducing valve can be a fantastic solution for minimizing pressure damage to your pipes while also reducing your home’s water consumption. Many homeowners will not notice a difference after installing a pressure-reducing valve.
13. Hot Water Recirculation Pump
One of the most annoying things you can experience with your plumbing system is cold water coming out of the hot water side of your faucet. Depending on how far the water heater is from that faucet, it may take a few moments before the cold water finally turns hot. While you wait for the water to heat up, you’re wasting all that water down the drain. A great solution to prevent that water loss is a hot water recirculation pump. This device circulates water throughout all your hot water lines through the water heater. This ensures that as soon as you turn on your hot water, the hot water comes out of the faucet.
Exceptional Plumbing Installation Service
Ribbs Plumbing Services offers exceptional plumbing installation services for the entire San Jose, CA area. We can also assist with all your plumbing repair, replacement, and inspection needs for your kitchen or bathroom. Give us a call today to book a service appointment with one of our experienced plumbers.
