Water is a resource that is vital to our daily lives and is necessary for survival. With water covering over 70 percent of the earth, you may be surprised to learn that only 1% of that is suitable for human consumption.
Because water is a limited resource, it is critical that we all do our part to make sure that we are not inadvertently wasting water in our homes. On average, the typical American home uses around 300 gallons of water daily, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
To learn more about water-saving fixtures, contact Midlothian plumbing company Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating at 469-518 – 2809.
Continue reading for ways you may be wasting water.
10 Ways You May Be Wasting Water
Being aware of the areas in your home where water waste is more likely can help your family practice good water conservation practices. Below are ten areas that range from typical habits to Midlothian plumbing issues that warrant a visit from a licensed technician.
1. Constantly Flushing the Toilet
Toilet consumption makes up about one-third of your home’s entire water usage. Each time that you flush your toilet you are using about 1.5 gallons of water. Where this can be wasteful is when you are flushing the toilet for items that can just as easily be thrown into the trash can.
Flushing items such as facial tissue and feminine products can be harmful to your plumbing and should be disposed of in your trash can. This will reduce your number of daily flushes and can have a big impact on water consumption.
2. Taking Longer Showers
As relaxing as taking a long shower after a hard day is, it is also incredibly wasteful. On average, your shower will use two gallons of water every minute. Even if you are taking a 10 minute shower, you are still using 20 gallons.
Practice taking shorter, more deliberate showers. Even shaving off two minutes will help save a considerable amount of water over time. Look into showerheads that are low flow or ones that provide the ability to temporarily stop the water without turning everything off.
3. Using Outdated Plumbing Fixtures
When it comes to unnecessary water consumption, outdated plumbing fixtures are usually right at the top of the list. As with other home systems, your plumbing will start to show wear and tear over time. Something as simple as a faulty toilet flapper can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day, resulting in a major spike in your water bill.
When repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures look for low-flow options to help curb water waste. Simply installing a low-flow toilet can reduce overall water waste by 50%. Contact a bathroom plumbing team for more information on installing new fixtures.
4. Leaking Pipes/Appliances
Leaks of any kind cause a sharp spike in water consumption, but it doesn’t have to be a burst pipe to have a major impact. Often it is the small, unnoticeable water leaks that result in wasting large amounts of water over a longer period of time.
Periodically checking visible pipes and appliances that use water will help prevent damage and reduce overall usage. Should you notice that any are in disrepair, don’t hesitate to get the issue resolved. Whether it is a simple DIY job or if you are in need of a Midlothian plumbing expert, getting the leak stopped should be a top priority.
5. Half Loads of Laundry
It’s date night and your favorite shirt is dirty, so running a small load of laundry shouldn’t be a big deal, right? Even if your washing machine is a high-efficiency unit, washing even half loads can be incredibly wasteful. Washing machines are at their most efficient when they are fully loaded.
Plan ahead, and if you find that a particular piece of clothing is dirty, take the time to gather up other clothes in your home to make a full load. Additionally, washing a load of laundry only to forget about it for a couple of days and then needing to rewash them leads to excessive water waste.
6. Half Dishwasher Loads
Having a dishwasher can be a huge time saver and makes kitchen cleanup incredibly easy. Similar to your washing machine, running half loads in your dishwasher creates unneeded waste. While most newer dishwashers are efficient, most only offer shorter cleaning cycles. The number of dishes present will simply not impact the amount of water used in a shorter cycle.
Washing large items by hand will allow you to use all space in your dishwasher. Rather than running a cycle each night, no matter how full, run the dishwasher every other day. Encourage family members to use fewer cups, bowls or other utensils daily. If you are considering installing a new dishwasher, call your local kitchen plumbing technician.
7. Running Water While Washing Dishes
One area where you may be wasting water is in running the water while you wash dishes by hand. Kitchen faucets use an average of about 2 gallons per minute making them much more wasteful than you might imagine.
Filling your sink with warm water and washing all of your dishes before rinsing them is a great way to avoid falling into the trap of just letting the tap continue to run.
8. Running Water While Brushing Your Teeth
Years ago there were ads that emphasized the importance of turning off the water while you brush your teeth. Despite being slightly comical, there was truth behind the message. The faucets in your bathroom can burn through a gallon and a half of water every minute. Brushing your teeth twice a day for three minutes per person can have a huge impact on overall water consumption for your family.
9. Overwatering Your Yard
Dad jokes aside, who doesn’t love a beautifully green lawn? As homeowners, it is one of the first things that people see as they pass your home on the street or when they stop by for a visit.
Overwatering, faulty connections and poor connections at the bib are all ways that you can quickly go from providing your lawn nourishment to wasting a ton of water. Install automatic sprinklers to help regulate water and minimize consumption. Xeriscape your yard to focus on plants that are local to your climate and potentially drought resistant.
If you have a sprinkler system and suspect a leak, Dial One Johnson is the plumber, Midlothian, TX, residents have on speed dial.
10. Washing Your Car
Washing your car in your driveway is not quite as common as it used to be, but for those that go this route, you can bet that you will be using a considerable amount of water. This is especially true if you leave the water hose running the entire time.
As an alternative, fill one or more buckets with water and dip your sponge. Limit using the hose to rinsing at the beginning and end of the wash. Resisting the urge to wash your car or truck every week will also help.
Finding a Midlothian Plumbing Company
The fact that you are reading this article shows that you are concerned with water consumption, whether it is because of the environment or financial impact. The majority of the items that were listed are simple habits that are easy to correct with practice. But what happens when water consumption is out of your control, such as a plumbing emergency?
First turn off the water to your home. Then call the team at Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating. Having served homeowners in Ellis county for over 50 years, we have seen it all. From maintenance to emergencies, our team of professionally trained plumbers are standing by ready to help.
Call us at 469-518-2809 or visit dial1plumbing.com to schedule an appointment today.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.