Are you looking to cut down on your bills and save money around the house? Using facts and figures on household water usage from the Water Corporation, we have compiled ten plumbing tips to help you shave a few dollars off your water bill.
#1 Taps
Check your taps for drips and leaks. Ensure that the hot and cold water faucets are tightened until the water stops.
Turn off the tap when you’re not using it. For example, if you stop running the tap while brushing your teeth, you could save up to 10L per minute.
For leaking taps, call a licensed plumber to help you.
#2 Shower Heads
Use water efficient shower heads to significantly save on water and energy usage. The average household could up to 20,000L of water per year.
Looks at the stars on the water rating (WELS) label. The more stars, the more water efficient, and the more money you will save.
#3 Shorter showers
A hot shower at the end of a long, hard day’s work is often just what you need. However, showers use up a lot water, almost 25% of all household water usage.
Start by using a timer to monitor how much time you spend in the shower. Try to beat your personal best time every day until you able to finish in under 5 minutes. By reducing your shower time by 2 minutes each time, it can result in a water saving of up to 30%.
The Water Corporation recommends playing your favourite 4-minute song, alternatively, set a timer (preferably with sound) to 4 minutes.
#4 Toilets
Surprisingly, toilets use up a lot of water every time you flush. Toilets contribute to approximately 20% of indoor water use. You could be literally flushing your money away!
If you haven’t already got one, dual flush systems can save up to 80L of water per day. Use the half flush whenever possible.
Alternatively, you could replace your existing toilet with a more water-efficient model. Once again, check the water rating. 4 stars or more will save a significant amount of water.
#5 Re-use water
A lot of water can be wasted while you’re waiting for the water to turn from cold to hot. Place a bucket or a Watering Can underneath the shower head or tap to collect the water. Use the excess water on your garden or plants.
Water can also be re-used if you have leftover water from other household appliances such as a kettle, washing machine, and dishwasher.
#6 Air Conditioners
Use the fan only setting on your air conditioning unit. Evaporative air conditioners can use around 100L of water per hour, adding up to 30,000L or more in a year.
Switching your AC to the ‘fan only’ setting for 2 hours a day, at night, and on humid days, will make a big difference in your water use.
#7 Check for leaks
Leaks around your house can waste thousands of litres of water per year, causing more money to go down the drain. Every year, the equivalent of around 700 million buckets of water is lost through residential leaks in Perth alone.
When water isn’t being used in your house, monitor the reading on the water meter and check it again in a couple hours. If you suspect there is a leak, call a licensed plumber to fix for you.
#8 Dishwasher
Pre-rinsing dishes can double your water use, so instead of rinsing your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher scrape the excess food into the bin.
Did you know around 30% of blockages in our wastewater system are caused by fats, oils and grease solidifying in pipes? Removing grease and food scraps from your pots, pans, and dishes before you wash them keeps the drains clear of blockages.
Ensure you have a full load before pressing start on the dishwasher. A half load doubles the water use! Wait until its full, then use the eco option to avoid wasting water.
#9 Washing your clothes
When washing your clothes, you may wash by hand or use a washing machine. Consider washing by hand if you do not have a full load in the machine.
For a washing machine, choose a model with 4 or more stars to save on water. Use the eco features that available on your machine.
#10 Use energy efficient appliances
We’ve already mentioned using water efficient appliances, but you might want to also consider energy efficient appliances.
Look at the red and yellow label which shows the energy star rating. As with the water label, the more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance is which in turn will save you more money.
Also consider visiting our facebook and instagram pages, where we post more plumbing tips, time to time. While your here, save the “Know Hot Water” number into your phone in case you need the assistance of a plumber, we’ll be just a few taps away.