21 August

How to Save On Your Water Bill

Have you ever received a colossal water bill that made it look like you filled up eight Olympic-sized pools with your kitchen faucet?

Spikes in hydro bills happen every now and then, and that’s completely okay. What isn’t alright is water wastage that turns a bill spike into a habit.

No one wants to overspend on anything unnecessary, so we’re here to provide helpful tips on how to save money on water bills.

Get ready to save cash, save water, and even help save the planet!

1. Switch Off the Tap

When we leave the tap running idly while we brush teeth, wash dishes, or lather soap on our hands, we are literally letting money go down the drain.

Unless you enjoy the ASMR of running water while you brush your pearly whites, remember to switch the tap off when not in use.

If you’re looking to take it to the next level, you might want to look into a full faucet overhaul in your home. Smart faucets are household investments that come with automatic shut-off functions, temperature adjustments, and hands-free control. Aside from helping you save money on water bills, their touchless features contribute to preventing the spread of bacteria.

2. Repair All Leaks

Did you know that the city of Toronto loses anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of its total drinking water supply to leakage every year. That’s about 103 million litres per day, just in Toronto!

Leave no stone unturned when locating and staunching leaks. Start by checking for leaky taps, toilets, and hose connections.

The fastest and most efficient way to test for toilet leaks is a dye test. This is done by placing a few drops of food colouring into the tank and waiting for ten minutes without flushing. Food colour appearing in the toilet bowl is a clear indication of a leak. No need to panic if this is the case, because fixing it can be as easy as applying some pipe tape, replacing a worn toilet valve seal, or changing a washer.

Aside from the toilet and sinks, identifying plumbing leakages anywhere else in the house tends to pose more of a challenge. However, you can try to monitor your water meter for anything suspicious. All you have to do is take note of the current number on the meter, refrain from using water for two hours, then circle back to the water meter. If the numbers change, you just confirmed the presence of a leak. That’s your cue to call a plumber to locate, repair, and conquer the issue.

3. Take Shorter Showers

Are you a long-shower type of person yet want to know how to save on water bills? Well, you’re going to have to trim down your shower time.

Opting to take showers rather than baths is already a huge money saver on its own, as a bath can consume up to 70 gallons of water. A 20-minute shower, on the other hand, typically takes up to 50 gallons of water. Sure, it’s easy to overindulge and really enjoy your well-deserved shower time, but there’s a faster way to do that!

We can help minimize this further by means of the following:

• Create a playlist to correspond to your desired shower duration;
• Try a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner;
• Take lukewarm or cold showers—you’ll still get clean yet want to get out of the shower ASAP!; and
• Avoid getting lost in shower thoughts—just stay focused on cleansing.

4. Repair Or Replace Inefficient Appliances

Inefficient or outdated appliances (like washing machines and dishwashers) consume a lot of water and energy. Upgrade your household with Energy Star-approved appliances that reduce both water and electricity usage.

5. Revamp Your Home’s Irrigation System

If your outdoor residential irrigation system is anything less than ideal, you may have just found the culprit behind your sky-high water bills.

Let’s bring those numbers back down to earth by means of the following:

• Ensure that sprinklers are aimed at the landscape and not the driveway or pavement.
• Water your garden before sunrise and after sunset. This way, you’ll be giving water the opportunity to get absorbed by the soil rather than just evaporating in the sunlight.
• Switch to smart irrigation controllers.
• If you have a swimming pool, keep it covered when not in use to minimize evaporation.

Saved by the Plumber

In order to truly optimize the way you save on your water bill, it’s time to call a plumber to save the day.

You can put your trust in the professionalism of the highly-skilled plumbers at PlumbWize. No hidden leak is invisible enough for our team of specialists who cater to the Burlington, Hamilton, and Oakville areas.

Book a quote and take those “how to save on your water bill” goals to the next level.

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