Water Saving Tips = Money Saving Tips!
If we told you that you could save big bucks without a whole lot of effort, you’d (rightly) be wondering what the catch is. Even more, if we also said that it would help reduce your impact on the planet, you’d be really suspicious.
However, the only catch is paying more attention to your water usage and following some easy tips. By watching your water use you can help your pipes, you’ll help the planet and pad your wallet.
We’ve all heard tips like “don’t water your lawn so much” or “turn the water off while you brush your teeth!” While those tips are valuable, we’ll share ones that you might not think of off the top of your head.
Tip #1: Use Low Flushing Toilets
Especially if you have older toilets, you can literally be flushing money down the toilet. These days, toilets can use as little as 1.1 gallons per flush. For comparison, here are some average flows amounts from older thrones.
Toilets From 1980-1992: These toilets used an average of 3.5 gallons per flush, more than three times the most efficient toilets of today. In 1992, the U.S. government mandated a focus on water conservation and this number dropped substantially.- Prior to 1980: Toilets in the seventies used between 5 and 7 gallons per flush, on average, almost 700% more than our modern toilets. Even older toilets clocked in at a whopping 8 gallons per flush. When you consider that the average water utility bill costs about one cent per gallon and each person flushes the toilet an average of 5 times per day, you could see how money was almost literally being flushed down the toilet.
While normally saying “they don’t make them like they used to,” is not such a good thing, when it comes to toilets, it is fantastic. There are plenty of lower flow toilets, averaging between 1.1 and 1.6 gallons per flush, including the industry-leading dual flush option. Any of these options can save you money with each and every visit.
Tip #2: Check Your Shower Faucets
You may think that a dripping faucet can’t amount to much in the way of savings. After all, the phrase “it’s just a drop in the bucket” exists for a reason, right?
However, every time you hear a dripping faucet, you should think of it as the sound of lost money. That’s because these leaks can add up quickly.
Take for example a faucet that leaks about 10 times per minute, which would hardly be unusual. This drip can account for up to $20 per month, per faucet, not to mention all the wasted water. Making sure you stop the flow can increase the flow of money to your wallet.
Tip #3: Catch Pipe Leaks Early
Your water bill is probably something you normally just open and pay without even thinking about it. However, you really should pay attention to your bill because that can be the first (and sometimes only) indicator of an expensive pipe leak.
With most happening underground or out of sight, catching these early can be critical. After all, a leak just the size of a pencil tip can lose nearly 1,000 gallons every day. At even just a penny per gallon, this is $10 of extra expense. Catching these early is critical.
If you’d like any assistance installing water conserving hardware or checking for a leak, please feel free to reach out to an expert at Bud’s Plumbing & Repair Service by calling (812) 618-9638 and we’ll be happy to assist.
