5 Ways to Save Water (and Money!) This Summer

Summer is just around the corner. And, if you’re like most homeowners, your water consumption goes up in the summer as we water our lawns, fill our pools or play in sprinkler systems to beat the heat.

Whether you’re attempting to conserve water for environmental reasons or simply to save money, there are some ways you can conserve water this time of year.

As your Brooklyn Green plumbing experts, the plumbers at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning have some tips to help you beat the summertime water bill blues. Read on to learn more or simply give us a call today!

1. Water your Landscaping in the Morning or Evening

Because the hot mid-afternoon sun burns water away faster than it can seep into the ground, watering your plants in the morning or evening allows plants time to absorb the nutrients. This means you use less water to hydrate your hydrangeas.

2. Shorten your Showers

The average person spends about 8 to 10 minutes in the shower each day. If you shorten your showers by as much as two minutes, you can save up to 1,750 gallons of the liquid stuff per person each year.

3. Use the Dishwasher

Instead of handwashing your dirty dishes, stick them into the dishwasher. Handwashing dishes takes about 27 gallons of water per meal while a dishwasher only uses about three gallons. And you don’t have to run it after every meal unless you’ve made a big feast.

4. Only run Washers When you Have Full Loads

By reducing the number of times you run these two time-saving devices, you will save about $200 a year on your water bill. This also helps you save on your electric bill as these machines use the same amount of electricity to run whether they are full or not.

5. Check Your Home for Leaks

Did you know a leaky toilet can cost homeowners up to $150 a month on average? Now that you know, you should check to see if your toilet is leaking. Drop some food coloring in the tank and, if it appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure your faucets aren’t dripping, as well. Sometimes a simple washer can fix a leaky faucet. But, if you aren’t sure how to fix your faucet or if you suspect a leak within your home’s internal piping system, call a licensed and experienced plumber.

Bonus Tip: Use a Rain Barrel

If you have a garden, a great way to conserve water is to add a rain barrel to your downspouts. You can either dip your watering can in the barrel to scoop up nature’s reserve or you can add a hose to the bottom for easy watering.

Help from the Brooklyn Plumbing Pros

So, enjoy the summer and try to stay cool. But if you want to enjoy it without the high cost of additional water usage, you should heed some or all of these tips. And, if Petri can help you solve some of your plumbing issues, feel free to call us or contact us online to schedule an appointment.