Normally we dedicate this blog to sharing interior and exterior painting news, tips, and project information. It’s what we do and what we are passionate about!
We also, however, are passionate about the area in which we live, and want to help spread the word about how to practically join in the water-saving effort. We’ve done this by sharing landscaping tips ( Water-Saving Landscaping Tips for the Central Valley ), and now we thought it might be helpful to discuss six ways to save water in your home.
6 Ways to Use Less Water in Your Home
An average home actually uses a tremendous amount of water in the course of day-to-day life. A “quick shower” is the equivalent of pouring anywhere from 2.5-4 gallons of water down the drain per minute, and flushing a toilet will use between 1.6 (for new models) and 7 gallons (you can find all these statistics and more here ).
In fact, the average American family can use up to 400 gallons of water per day. 400.
Suddenly it becomes a little clearer why every bit of conservation helps!
Here are six tips to consider:
- Fix any leaks that you can - Faucets, spigots, and dripping shower-heads all add up over time. Investing in a small DIY project can save you more water (and money) than you might think.
- Upgrade as you are able - Were you surprised by the differences listed above in the amounts of water used by showers and toilets? There’s a huge divide, for example, between 1.6 gallons and 7 gallons being used per flush, and it all is attributed to modern, better-designed equipment.
- Check your water meter - A surprising spike in water usage can mean that there is a leak somewhere that you aren’t aware of. Resolving this is important not only because of water consumption, but also because of the threat of water damage if the leak is internal.
- Keep your drinking water in the refrigerator - Have you ever run the water until it is cold enough to drink? We’ve all done it! Why not just fill a jug and keep it in the refrigerator?
- Avoid running water - Shutting the water off while you brush your teeth, or using a container to rinse your razor instead of running water over it, will save a surprising amount.
- Fill your dishwasher and washing machine - As often as you can, wait until your machines are full to capacity before operating them.
We hope that these tips are helpful, and that in not too long we’ll get the rain that we all need. Until then, let’s keeping working together to conserve as best we can!
