Are you trying to figure out way to help lower your water bill? If it appears as if you are paying an increasing amount each month or you just want to lower the number, there are a few ways to trim your water use and cut your bill.
Most Long Beach Plumbers will tell you that the average household uses about 260 gallons of water every day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If you mainly focus on:
- Using more efficient appliances
- Detecting leaks
- And reducing the amount of water you use for keeping your landscaping green…
You’ll be well on your way to lowering water use and a lower water bill.
Here are six crucial things you can do to bring down your water bill.
- Swap out your toilet for a new one with the WaterSense label: Toilets are a HUGE water-guzzler, using up about 30 percent of a household’s interior water. The EPA states that toilets made prior to 1992 use up to 3.5 gallons per flush. Newer models with the WaterSense label require just 1.28 gallons. By simply switching over, a household can save up to $2,000 over the lifetime of the fixture. If you choose to use flush toilets, you will end up using less water for flushing liquid and more water for flushing solids, which also helps conserve.
- Check for leaks: Fixing leaks can save you up to 10 percent on your annual water bill. The most notable sources are leaking faucets, flappers that need to be replaced in the toilet, and other valves that leak.
- Replace faucets and shower heads: Plumber in Long Beach, CA will tell you that water from faucets totals about 15 percent of a household’s inside water, and showers take up about 17 percent. You can use less water for both if you replace them with WaterSense faucets and shower heads. Even buying an inexpensive aerator for your faucet can aid in cutting down water use.
- Buy ENERGY STAR appliances: When you throw in a load of laundry, it takes about 41 gallons of water to get the job completed. A more efficient washing machine will use 35 to 50 percent less water. It is highly suggested that you look for the label when you replace your dishwasher, too.
- Rethink your lawn: The average lawn needs 10,000 gallons of non-rain water a year to do well. About 30 percent of all household water usage is for outdoor uses. Our Long Beach plumbers suggest you find native plants and foliage that grow best in your climate. If you prefer to keep your lawn, try to use a low-water grass and lower the amount of area that is landscaped by grass.
- Focus on the water heater: This typically out-of-sight fixture makes up about 13 percent of the water bill and up to 25 percent of your energy bill, too. You can help reduce that expenditure by using an insulation blanket and insulating the cold and hot water pipes connecting to the heater.