With the COVID-19 pandemic, people and families are spending more time at home. Many parents have turned to virtual schooling for their children. Many businesses are having non-essential employees working from the safety of their homes. Many people were also furloughed and may still be on leave from their jobs.
As a result, they have noticed their energy bills have increased because they are using more water, electricity, and natural gas. If you have noticed your energy bills increase, especially your water bill, you will want to check out these water conservation tips.
Tip #1: Don’t wash dishes by hand.
You waste a lot of water when you wash dishes by hand. If you have a dishwasher, use that to wash your dishes. Yet, wait until it is full before running it. If you don’t have a dishwasher, use a plastic tub filled with cold water to rinse your dishes. You can reuse the rinse water to water plants, to mop your floor, or for other cleaning purposes.
Tip #2: Only do full loads of laundry.
Unless you have a limited wardrobe, most people have two to three weeks of clothes. Wait until you have full loads of laundry, as this uses less water and energy than doing partial loads. Another way to save some money is to wash clothes in cold water.
Tip #3: Don’t leave the water running when brushing your teeth.
One bad habit many people have is to let the water run while they are brushing their teeth. Get out of this habit by shutting it off after wetting your toothbrush. You can turn the water on and off as needed.
Tip #4: Take showers instead of baths.
Baths use a lot of water to fill the tub compared to a quick shower. You will use a fraction of the water and reduce water and energy usage.
Tip #5: Fix leaky faucets.
If you have faucets that drip when shut off, all those little drips can add up to hundreds of gallons of water over a year. Have your plumber repair or replace the leaky faucets.
Tip #6: Upgrade to water-saving fixtures.
Replace faucets, showerheads, toilets, and other fixtures with ones that have water-saving features. For example, getting a new low-flush toilet allows you to use less water per flush. You could even get a toilet with dual-flush stages for liquid and solid waste.
Tip #7: Upgrade to tankless water heaters.
Tankless water heaters create hot water on-demand to save money. You won’t have to wait for what seems like forever for hot water to come flowing out the faucet either. Not to mention, you will use less energy because your water heater won’t have to keep stored water heated to the preset temperature any longer.
Tip #8: Collect cold water while waiting for hot water.
Whenever you need to turn on the tap for hot water, get storage containers to collect the cold water. You can use the water you collect for cooking, drinking, rinsing dishes, etc.
By using these tips, you will notice a reduction in your water and energy bills. If you stick to them and implement other water- and energy-saving ideas around your home, you will continue to save money.
For help fixing leaks, installing water-saving fixtures, and installing tankless water heaters, or for other plumbing services in the entire Coachella Valley area and Palm Springs, please feel free to contact the plumbers at KC’s 23 ½ Hour Plumbing by calling 760-327-8718 today!