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Tips on Saving On Your Water Bill
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Are you using more water
than you thought? Take a look at your bill. The average daily water use
in Tampa, Florida is between 50 and 200 gallons per person per day.
You’d be surprised at how much water you are using and money you can
save by following conservation tips.
 Inside
your house, bathroom facilities claim nearly 75% of the water used.
Never pour water down the
drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or
garden, or for cleaning around your home.
Verify that your home is
leak free. Many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter
before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the
meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
Repair dripping faucets by
replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per
second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year. This adds to the
cost of water and sewer utilities and adds to your water bill.
Retrofit all household
faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors to slow the flow of
water.
Check for toilet tank leaks
by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color
will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for
worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are
inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as
test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
If the toilet handle
frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly,
replace or adjust it.
Install a toilet dam or
displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of
water needed for each flush. Be sure installation does not interfere
with the operating parts. When purchasing new or replacement toilets,
consider low-volume units which use less than half the water of older
models. In many areas, low-volume units are required by local building
codes.
Take shorter showers.
Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are
available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water
temperature knobs.
Place a bucket in the
shower to catch excess water and use this to water plants. The same
technique can be used when washing dishes or vegetables in the sink.
Operate automatic
dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded. Set the
water level for the size of load you are using.
Do not use running water to
thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the
refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
Avoid flushing the toilet
unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in
the trash rather than the toilet.
If you are looking for a Tampa plumber, please call us today at 813.963.3056
or complete our
online
service request form.
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