Water shortages are a growing problem in many areas, and wasting water also eats into your household budget. However, many tips for reducing water usage require big changes in your daily routine, such as turning off the shower while lathering up or collecting barrels of rainwater. If you want to waste less water without doing more work, try these four tips.
Switch Your Showerhead
One of the easiest water-saving swaps you can make is replacing your old showerhead with a new, low-flow model. Low-flow showerheads can be found for as little as $20, and installing your new showerhead is easy. Just twist off the old one and twist on the new one. If you’re afraid that a low-flow showerhead will leave you with shampoo in your hair, don’t worry. Showerheads have come a long way over the years, and chances are that you will never notice the difference.
Fix Leaks
Do you have dripping faucets or leaking pipes? You might think that ignoring them saves you money on plumber’s fees, but faulty plumbing can cost far more in wasted water over time. Call a professional to patch your pipes and tighten up your faucets to keep all that expensive water from going down the drain unused.
Choose Appliances Carefully
Did you know that the average family can save $380 a year by switching to WaterSense certified fixtures and appliances? The WaterSense label means a 20% increase in water efficiency without compromising performance. In fact, these appliances often perform better than their less efficient counterparts. If you’ve been putting off a new appliance purchase, do the math to see if that new dishwasher or water heater can pay for itself in water savings.
Run Full Loads
Whether your dishwasher or clothes washing machine is old or new, always running it at full capacity is an easy way to reduce water wastage. Remember that your appliances use the same amount of water when partially filled as they do for a full load. If your appliance has settings for smaller loads, make sure to use them when you need to run it at a lower capacity.
Although there are many water-saving solutions that allow you to set it and forget it, you can save even more water with a little effort. Small changes like turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth and wash your face or shaving a few minutes off your morning shower time can also add up to big savings.