As the temperature rises so does the amount of water people tend to use. This tendency, however, can lead to high water bills taking homeowners by surprise in the summer months. To help keep your water bill manageable this summer, consider making use of these six water conservation tips.
Tip #1: Make Use of Mulch
One of the main reasons water usage tends to go up in the summer is the fact that people must water their flowers, shrubs, and other plants during the summer. There are ways, though, to make it so the plants in your lawn don’t require as much water to survive. The most effective way to reduce your plant’s water needs is to apply a thick layer of bark mulch around their base. Bark mulch works to both block out weeds – which can drink up large amounts of the water you give your plants if left unchecked, as well as retain moisture so you won’t have to water as frequently.
Tip #2: Use a Dishwasher
Believe it or not, studies have shown that using a dishwasher to wash a load of dishes takes less water than washing them by hand. This means that you can enjoy the convenience of a dishwasher while also saving water. When you’re dealing with the dirty dishes left over from your summer dinner party, be sure to let your dishwasher take care of the job.
Tip #3: Go to the Car Wash
The image of using buckets full of soapy water and a water hose to wash your car in the summer is almost iconic. With that said, it’s also a huge waste of water. Not only does going to the car wash mean you’ll be using someone else’s water, it also only uses about 50 gallons of water on average compared to about 150 gallons that are used on average if you hand wash your car at home. Of course, waiting for a summer rain shower, often called nature’s car wash, to do the job will save you even more.
Tip #4: Insulate Hot Water Pipes
The correlation between pipe insulation and water conservation may not seem obvious at first. However, when you think about how much water you run waiting for the water to turn hot, it begins to make sense why insulating your hot water pipes so that the water turns hotter much faster can actually save you a lot of water.
Tip #5: Take Shorter Showers
Long, steamy showers just don’t have quite the same appeal when it’s hot outside, so why not shorten your showers in the summer months? Taking a shower that is just two minutes shorter each day can actually save you 150 gallons of water per month.
Tip#6: Fix Leaky Faucets
Tiny leaks add up over time. In fact, a faucet that leaks just one drop per second wastes a staggering 2,700 gallons of water per year. On top of this, leaky faucets tend to only get worse over time if left unfixed. Better to call a professional plumbing service to correct the problem now and stop wasting water drip by drip.
How St. Matthews Plumbing Can Help
In many cases, saving water in the summer comes down to adjusting your own habits concerning water usage. In other cases, though, conserving water can be done through installing new, water-efficient appliances and fixing existing plumbing problems. This is where the professional plumbers at St. Matthews Plumbing can help. If you would like to learn more about the high-quality, affordable services we offer, we invite you to contact us today.