Honor Earth Day With 3 Easy Water Conservation Tips
The eco-friendly movement has gained ground since the first Earth Day of 1970. These days, finding ways to save the planet is a common question plumbers hear every day. Modern conveniences like showers, sinks, dishwashers, and toilets use a lot of water every day. Modern solutions like low-flow toilets and new dishwashers can make the home more eco-friendly, but these upgrades can cost a lot of money and aren’t always doable.
Homeowners might be surprised to find out that conserving water doesn’t require expensive modifications or drastic lifestyle changes. There are plenty of easy ways for homeowners to go green and eco-friendly just in time for Earth Day.
Sink Into Water Savings
The average American household wastes about 9,000 gallons of water a year. That’s enough water to fill a small pool. Imagine the water-savings homeowners could swim in if they lowered that number!
It’s pretty easy to do. A lot of water waste in the home comes from leaving the faucets running when not in use. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but letting the sink run while brushing teeth or shaving can waste around 4 gallons of water at a time. That’s 8 gallons of water a day just for one person to brush their teeth twice! Only running the faucets when water is needed, like when rinsing the sink out after brushing, can save gallons of water a day.
Save the Earth One Bath at a Time
Showers are perfect for a quick cleaning experience after running around outside or a hard day’s work. They are not, however, always the best option for water-saving.
The average shower without any eco-friendly modifications will waste 5 gallons of water per minute. The average bathtub requires 36 gallons of water per bath. If a shower takes longer than 7-minutes, it has begun to waste more water than a bath.
That’s not to say that showers are always bad. Baths are recommended for deep relaxation and luxury and are the eco-friendly alternative to a long, hot shower. On the other hand, showers can save water when taken quickly and are better for cleaning off. If the goal is to enjoy a long, hot period of relaxation, baths are the way to go.
Homes without bathtubs can invest in an eco-friendly showerhead to reduce water usage during long showers. Additional eco-friendly moves include shortening showers to ten minutes or less and taking cooler showers to save on the water heating bill.
Save the Springs, Stop the Leaks
To rake in the eco-friendly savings, homeowners should have their pipes checked for leaks every year. Small leaks often go undetected until they become bigger problems, and over time they can lead to excessive water waste in a house. Hidden leaks are just one reason homeowners should have a plumber inspect the plumbing once a year.
Annual plumbing inspections can detect leaks early when they are easier and cheaper to fix. More importantly, they protect the home from any surprise flooding and keep the house greener and more eco-friendly in the long run. These water-saving tips aren’t just inexpensive, they’re also easy to do! Homeowners can give them a try this year, just in time for Earth Day!
About Oak Plumbing
In 2016, a master plumber decided it was time to provide Benicia, CA with a plumbing company focused on the customers. Thanks to that vision, Oak Plumbing was born. Ever since then, their expert team has been providing superb, affordable plumbing service to their local community. Give the friendly team at Oak Plumbing a call today for plumbing services!