Water is the most precious resource on Earth yet is something we in this part of the world take for granted. Conserving water is more important than ever before and doing your part to protect every drip will not only lower your bills, but it will also help to avoid future shortages.
Of course, the simplest and most obvious solution to saving water is to engage in habits like turning off the water when you’re not using it. Be mindful of turning off the tap after wetting your toothbrush, or not leaving the water running while scrubbing dishes by hand; you’ll save a lot more water than you think. At its essence, water conservation is about making small tweaks to our daily routines, thinking twice about the water we consume, and actively conserving the water that we aren’t using. Whether for financial or for environmental reasons, if you’re looking for ways to reduce water consumption, here are four smart tips to get you started:
- Check Your Toilet for Leaks – A leaking or running toilet can waste over 100 gallons of water each day! Fixing a running toilet is often a quick fix that you can do yourself with a trip to the hardware store. If it is an ongoing issue, call in a plumber to replace it with a water-conserving toilet and solve the problem once and for all. Water leakage is a very serious problem in addition to wasted water. Water leaking from dried-out seals, cracks in the porcelain, or caused by other issues, can result in costly damages to your floors, walls and ceilings below (including mould)! If you spot puddles around your toilet, call in a licensed plumber right away.
- Inspect Your Faucets and Pipes for Leaks – Even a small dripping tap can waste significant quantities of water. Having your pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings inspected every couple of years can help ensure your home is leak-free. Water leaks outside of your home, such as an outdoor tap or hose can be especially wasteful because they might not be noticed, or they are simply easy to ignore. Whether you hire a professional plumber or put your handyman skills to work, silencing that dripping tap or putting an end to leaks will save a lot of water, and will help tighten up your utility bills!
- Upgrade to More Efficient Fixtures – When we think about innovation, plumbing fixtures probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, but these seemingly insignificant parts of your home have come a long way! To help us conserve water, manufacturers are integrating water conservation features into their products. Canadian building codes now limit bathroom faucets to 1.5 gallons per minute and most municipalities limit toilets to a maximum of 6 liters per flush. If you have an older model, replacing it with a new one will go a long way towards consuming less and saving more. Low-flow toilets, newer dishwashers and washing machines can all help you to use less water without changing your habits.
Take your conservation efforts one step further and consider installing water-saving shower heads, flow restrictors or faucet aerators. As of 2011, the average Canadian household uses more than 250L of water per day and less than 3% of it is used for drinking. Bathing, teeth brushing and washing dishes all send enormous quantities of water right down the drain. Sure, you can take shorter showers, but by installing water-saving showerheads, flow restrictors or faucet aerators, you’ll use much less water during these daily tasks. Modern showerheads sold in Canada limit water flow to a maximum of 2 gallons per minute. These are easy to install, and you’ll probably notice an impact on your water bill right away. - Full Loads Only – Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water whether you have a full load or a single plate. A dishwasher uses about 25 gallons of water per load, and a washing machine may use 30 to 35 gallons during each cycle! While it can be tempting to run a quick small load so that you can wear your favourite pair of jeans even sooner, by using your dishwasher or washing machine for full loads only, you’ll waste much less water.
You can start conserving water in your home as soon as today. By choosing even one of these water-conserving tips, you’ll notice a difference in your water bill, and you’ll be doing your part towards creating a healthier planet for the generations to come.
If your home has a leaky faucet or toilet, water that is not flowing the way it should, or you’re ready to upgrade to more water-efficient fixtures and appliances, today. The Super Plumber’s team of licensed plumbing professionals is ready to help you to put an end to wasteful water practices, while lowering your bills and protecting your home!
