You don’t have to go to extreme or expensive measures to conserve water. There are plenty of things you can do to save water that don’t cost a dime. Invest your time and efforts into improving your home and habits to conserve water.

Water Conservation Around the House

Kitchen:

• Don’t rinse dishes with running water: When washing dishes by hand, avoid rinsing with continuously running water. If you have a double-basin sink, fill one side with clean rinse water and the other with soapy water. If you have a single-basin sink, store soapy dishes on a rack, fill sink basin with clean water once washing is complete, and then rinse all dishes in clean water.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge: Keep a reusable bottle of water in the refrigerator so you always have a cold drink ready. This avoids running tap water and waiting for it to cool off before filling your cup. A refreshing glass of water is always ready to quench your thirst.
• Plan ahead for meals: Don’t use water to defrost frozen foods. Take frozen foods out of the freezer the day before and let it unfreeze in the refrigerator overnight.
• Limit boiling water: Use as little water as possible to boil foods when cooking. This not only saves water, but it reduces the energy needed to boil the water and keeps more flavor and nutrients in your foods.

Bathroom:

• Turn off water when brushing teeth: The typical person uses about 5 gallons of water if the water is left on while brushing teeth. Only turn the water on when needed to rinse.
• Don’t use the toilet as a trash can: Five to seven gallons of water can be wasted every time non disposable items are flushed down the toilet. Facial tissues, “flushable” wipes, and cigarettes are just some of the trouble makers.
• Check for toilet leaks: Use food coloring to test for toilet leaks. Put the dye into the tank, if the color appears in the bowl of the toilet without flushing, there is a leak that needs to be repaired.
• Adjust amount of water in toilet: Lower the level of water in the toilet tank to save water every time the toilet is flushed. Add a weighted plastic bottle or float booster or adjust the ball-cock or concentric valves.
• Fill the bathtub less: Only fill the bathtub with the minimum amount of water needed. In fact, avoid baths and opt for showers instead. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. You might argue that very few people fill the tub to the top, but a simple calculation shows that either way, baths use more water. If you’re still unconvinced, try stopping the drain during your next shower to measure the amount of water you use. Then compare that to the amount you use for a bath. Chances are, you’ll find the same result: showers save water.
• Take shorter showers: While showers use less water than baths, be sure to not over do it with super long showers. Limit the time of your showers to limit the water wasted. Try listening to music and measure your time by how many songs you listen to while in the shower.
• Save pre-shower water: While you set the correct the temperature for a shower, use a bucket to collect the running water. This water can be used to water plants.

General:

• Find leaks: Locate leaks in your plumbing. Leaks can come from sinks, toilets, tubs and showers, dishwashers, washing machines, hoses and even refrigerators. Leave no stone unturned when inspecting your home for leaks.
• Recycle water for plants: Use leftover water that you would have otherwise just put down the sink to water indoor and outdoor plants. Use leftover water from boiling food after it has cooled.
• Only run full loads: Only use the washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load of clothes or dishes to clean. Set the washing machine to a lower setting to use less water.

If you need assistance with your water conservation efforts, call the plumbers at Ben Franklin Plumbing. We offer leak repair, drain cleaning, pipe replacement and more. For plumbing repair around the clock, we offer 24/7 emergency plumbing repair services. Schedule a service with us today to experience the punctual plumber promise.

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