Few things can be quite as annoying as a dripping tap. If your tap drips excessively it can start having a negative effect on your water bill.
One of the ways to ensure your leaking tap doesn’t become a major leak is to call a plumber Sunshine Coast and other cities have on offer. Another way to avoid the issues that go with leaking taps and pipes is by some regular maintenance around the home.
Ways to Avoid Costly Water and Plumbing Bills
Australia is one of the highest consumers of water in the world. On average, Australia ranks 9th on the list of most water consumed per household per annum. One of the reasons for this stems from leaky taps and pipes. Another reason is as a result of water not being used sparingly.
Reducing the cost of your water bill and saving water in the process can be done by following a few simple guidelines around the house. Let’s have a look at a few of the easiest.
Maintain Plumbing Fixtures
One of the easiest ways to conserve water is to regularly check your taps and pipes in and around your home for leaks. This includes the taps in your garden. A single dripping tap can waste an average of 20,000 litres of water every year.
Regularly replace washers on taps in the kitchen, laundry and bathroom. Ensure that there are no leaking pipes. If you’re going to replace the washers on a few of your taps, you might as well check all the other fixtures. Ask your plumber for advice on water-saving aerators on your taps.
Encourage Water-Saving Solutions Around Your Home
Sometimes a great deal of water is wasted around the house without you even realising it. If you want to conserve water in your home, it’s necessary to educate and encourage your family on some simple water-saving tips such as the ones listed below:
- Use a dry vacuum cleaner rather than a wet vacuum.
- Don’t pour the water in your hot water bottle down the drain. Re-use this water for plants.
- Use the smallest pot when cooking food.
- Re-use the water from boiled foods to either boil other food or let it cool down and use it for plants, rather than pouring it down the drain.
- Keep water in the fridge for drinking rather than opening the tap and first testing the water to see if it’s cold, each time you want a glass of water.
- Don’t use hot running water to thaw food. Either defrost in the refrigerator in advance or place sealed meat in a bowl of warm water.
Change Bathroom and Shower Water Habits
Since the bathroom is one of the places where the most water is used, it’s portably the easiest place to make a few changes. Bathroom water-saving suggestions include the following:
- Use eco-friendly soap and cleaning products so that bathroom water can be re-used in the garden.
- Connect your bath and shower to a rainwater tank to re-use the water in the garden.
- Consider installing an instant water heater so that you don’t have to let the water run before a shower.
- If you can’t install an instant heater, use a bucket to collect the cold water that runs while your water heats up.
- Have shorter showers and opt for showers rather than bathing.
- Turn off the water while shaving or shampooing your hair.
- Invest in a water-efficient showerhead to save water.
Change the Way You Do Dishes
Generally, washing dishes uses a lot of water and wastes a considerable amount since the water becomes filled with soap; you can’t use it elsewhere. A few tips to save water with dishes include:
- Scrape leftovers off the plates instead of rinsing the dishes off with running water.
- Use one glass to drink water throughout the day. Using multiple glasses just adds to the number of dishes you need to wash and the dishwater you’ll use.
- If possible, invest in a dishwasher. New dishwashers use less water than hand washing.
- Run the dishwasher when it’s full as opposed to running it two or three times per day.
Make Better Food Choices
Using water to prepare and cook food can result in wasting more water than you realise. Consider these few water changing habits:
- Eat less meat. Meat uses a considerable amount of water to prepare.
- Choose organic foods as they require less cleaning and rinsing.
- Wash all your fruit and vegetables at once in a single bowl of water as opposed to rinsing each piece separately.
- Use the water from the fruit rinsing to water your house plants.
- If you use ice, don’t throw leftovers in the sink. Rather let it melt and pour it over house plants.
Final Thought
Practice a few of these water saving tips and you’ll save money on your water bill. You can even ask a plumber to check your home to identify leaks and other problems. Do your bit towards less water consumption in the country!