You don’t have to be a professional plumber to learn to save money on your water bill. There are many small, simple ways to lower your water usage, and ultimately reduce your costs.
Get the inside scoop from real plumbers, and how they save on their water bills. These tips might surprise you, and they’re easier than you may think.
Use Greywater to Water Your Plants
If you’re hearing the term greywater for the first time, you’re not alone. Greywater is gently used water or wastewater that comes from your home.
Sinks, tubs, and your washing machine are great places to catch greywater, and it’s easy to do.
How to catch Greywater:
- Place in the tub under the faucet while waiting for the water to get hot when taking a shower.
- Scoop out bath water after use.
- Place a bucket under the hose from your washing machine to catch the water after the rinse cycle.
- Wash your fruits and veggies in a bowl in the sink and keep the water from the bowl.
All the water you collect can be used to water your indoor and outdoor plants, or, if you don’t have plants, you can use it to flush your toilets. Pour some greywater into the bowl and the toilet will flush without using fresh water. There you have it.
Take Your Car to a Carwash
Easy, fast, and cheap don’t only apply to fast food. Taking your car to a car wash is less time-consuming, less costly, and better for the environment.
Cars need to be washed, especially in the winter months, to remove all the salt accumulated from salt trucks. Even if you live near where the temperature never drops below freezing, it’s nice to have a clean car.
Home car washes can use up to 120 gallons of water per wash. That is the equivalent of 3 baths, or 6 showers in one day.
Taking your car to a car wash will use 0 gallons on your meter, and only about 20 gallons total. The water used to wash your vehicle is then recycled, using a water reclamation system, which is great for the environment.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see which the better way is to go. Spend the 8 or so dollars at the car wash and save a heck of a lot more on your next water bill.
Check Your Home for Leaks
Leaks are any homeowner’s worst nightmare. It’s expensive, messy, and usually very inconvenient. Even if you rent your home, and aren’t paying for the repairs, there can be irrevocable damage to property and possessions.
This is why it is so important to be checking your home for leaks often. At least 2,000 – 5,000 gallons of water are lost every year to household leaks, and that’s on the smaller spectrum.
Check for surface water around pipes and faucets and listen for running toilets. These areas are the main culprits and can be fixed easily once spotted.
On top of being mindful, make sure you monitor your water meter reading, to make sure your water consumption matches the reading. If it’s out of whack, you could leak and may need to call someone ASAP.
Shower Instead of Taking Baths
I know the idea of sitting in your soaker tub, jets streaming, candles lit, surrounded by lavender-smelling bubbles is what dreams are made of. Especially after a long, hard day at whatever your office looks like.
But as relaxing as it sounds, it’s much more costly on your water bill. Taking a bath uses about 36 gallons of water, versus a ten-minute shower only uses about 20. This is a 16-gallon difference, and you’d better believe you will notice that difference on your bill.
Try cutting your baths down by a third every month and swap them out for 10 minutes showers. Your wallet will be happier. Now you’re in the know of how real plumbers save on their water bills. And now you can spread the word and be a hero to all your friends. Make sure they take you to dinner with all the money they save.
