Water is a precious, shrinking resource that the world needs to thrive, from people to animals, to the fragile ecological system. That being said, water is also an expensive commodity, and many of us experience frustration when we receive our monthly utility bills, spending hundreds (and, in some cases, thousands) of dollars each year on water.
We use water, particularly with bathroom plumbing systems, to maintain proper hygiene and to start our day off right with a steamy, invigorating shower. The question is, how can we reduce our water bills and conserve water without limiting our showers to five minutes, or even controlling the number of times we flush our toilets per day? Neither option sounds particularly appealing, nor convenient.
Happily, there are some very simple ways to conserve water while reducing your water bill, while still enjoying luxurious, hot showers and baths and not monitoring your flushes per day. A few pro tips include having a professional evaluate your bathroom plumbing and fixing any leaks, as well as considering switching from a traditional to a low flushing toilet.
The Genius of Low Flushing Toilets
Pardon the pun, but every time you flush the toilet, you are flushing a considerable amount of money (not to mention water) down the drain. Obviously, water is needed to flush a toilet.
However, switching from a traditional toilet can mean the difference between 3.4 gallons and 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Live in a typical household of four?
Do the math and you’ll see how quickly that wasted water adds up, costing you money, and wasting resources through inefficiency. A very simplistic explanation of how low flushing toilets work is as follows, using more pleasant variables than what typically is flushed.
Let’s say, for example, a child drops a cup of juice into the bowl of a low flushing toilet. The lower power, less water option would be adequate to flush the bowl of its contents. Now, imagine if that same child dropped a handful of marbles into the bowl.
You would then use the higher power option, which still uses less water than a traditional toilet, and gets the job done efficiently. While you would incur some initial costs switching from a traditional toilet to a low flushing option, the cost savings would immediately be evident, with the toilet virtually paying for itself in a short amount of time.
Leaky Faucets: More Than Just a Nuisance
Ever had trouble falling asleep because you could hear the constant “drip, drip, drip” of a leaky sink or shower faucet? That slow drip adds up over time, not only wasting water but costing you money.
If you’ve tried tightening a leaky faucet yourself to no avail, do not want to call a plumbing professional. Not only can they fix the problem quickly, easily and inexpensively, they can also stop a potential disaster from striking.
Washers can go, causing a faucet to run uncontrollably at full blast until you turn the water off (to the whole house). This will require an emergency visit from a plumbing contractor and a much more expensive repair. Save yourself time, money, aggravation and water by having a professional troubleshoot and analyze your leaky pipes; don’t wait until a small nuisance becomes a serious problem.
Leaky Pipes Are Trouble!
Leaky pipes are an indication of trouble; whether in your bathroom, basement, kitchen, or otherwise. Even for homeowners who are excellent at completing DIY repairs and are handy with a toolbox, there are some jobs that are best reserved for the experts.
Leaky pipes are among these jobs that require skills, know-how, and experience, and an incorrectly done repair can land you in hot water, no pun intended.
Leaky pipes can lead to everything from flooding to the development of mold, making wasted water an afterthought. So, what steps should you take as a responsible homeowner? Take a careful look at your home’s plumbing, including your bathroom, kitchen, and basement.
Note any dripping faucets, leaky pipes, or sudden spikes in your water bill. Additionally, take the time to do some calculations to get a rough estimate of how much money you spend annually on water used to flush your toilets, bearing in mind that 3.4 gallons per flush figure.
If you spot any areas of concern or are ready to make some upgrades to save some money while conserving water and helping the environment, call the plumbing experts at Dr Rooter at 803-398-2090 today to schedule an appointment.