Earth Month Tip of the Week: Conserving Water

Today is Earth Day and all month we have been giving you tips on how to conserve energy on things like your electric bill and your heating and cooling. Today we are focusing on how to conserve water in your home with everything from little changes to new appliances.

Use Aerators

An easy way to save money on your water bill is to install an aerator. Aerators work by adding air to the flow of water, which allows you to rinse and clean more dishes with less water. One aerator placed in a single faucet can reduce that faucet’s water consumption by as much as 60 percent. Special water-saving aerators can save you even more.

Check for Hidden Leaks

Some leaks are easy to spot, like a dripping faucet. Some might be a little harder to spot so we recommend checking your toilet and water heater periodically for leaks.  Place a little food coloring in your toilet’s tank, and if the color begins to disappear within 30 minutes (without flushing) then you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.  You can also use your water heater to check for leaks. Read your house water meter before and after a two-hour period where no water is being used. If the meter does not give the same reading after the two hour period, then you have a leak.

Look for WaterSense Products

The EPA started their WaterSense® program to help protect the future of our nation’s water supply. Carefully reading the labels on faucets, shower heads, and even toilets you install and making sure they have the WaterSense® label can help you conserve water.

Products bearing the WaterSense® label perform better than their less efficient counterparts, are 20 percent more water efficient than average products in the category, realize water savings on a national level, and provide measurable water saving results.

It doesn’t matter is your new home is large or small. Everything you can do to save water will help the environment.  So take a moment today and examine how you are using water in your current home and how you may use it in your new home.