It’s no secret that California is going through a serious drought. It’s up to us as California residents to do what we can to save water. Here are a few water saving habits that will help you reduce the amount of water you use and will also save you money in the process:
OUTDOOR WATER SAVING HABITS
- Test your toilet leaks
- One way you can do this is by putting food coloring in your toilet tank to see if it leaks into the bowl. Fixing toilet leaks can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
- Upgrade your old toilets
- Older toilet models tend to use more water per flush. Call a plumber to help you upgrade your old toilet to a low-flow or dual-flush model.
- Take shorter showers.
- This is an oldie, but goodie. Cutting even a few minutes off of your normal shower time can help you to conserve up to over 100 gallons per month.
WATER SAVING HABITS IN THE KITCHEN
- Buy faucet aerators.
- A faucet aerator works by mixing water and air together which inevitably uses less water when you’re running your faucet. This is a great mechanism that can help you save water without even trying!
- Soak pots & pans before washing them.
- Running water on pans while scrubbing them uses a lot of water, especially if the pot or pan has been sitting for a while. Before you wash your bigger dishes, soak them first, this will make the washing and rinsing process go much quicker.
- Wash fruits & vegetables in a pan instead of under running water.
- Pour water into a bowl or pan and wash our fruits and veggies in them. This way the water isn’t running for too long.
WATER SAVING HABITS IN THE BATHROOM
- Get drought tolerant plants.
- Planting drought tolerant plants and California natives is a great way to make your landscaping look great without having to water it too often.
- Use mulch.
- Mulch is a great alternative to grass that doesn’t require watering but helps to keep your plants and shrubs moist. It also does a great job of keeping your weeds under control!
- Use a broom instead of a hose when you can.
- Instead of rinsing off your patio, porch, or deck, sweep it!
Another great water saving tip is to only wash full loads of laundry. Doing this can help you save up to many gallons of water a month!
Jeff Shaffer Plumbing is committed to providing water-saving plumbing solutions to your home or office. If you’re having a plumbing issue, or would like more ideas on how to save water during this California drought contact us today!