How to Save Water
Indoors
- Defrost sensibly.
Plan ahead to defrost foods overnight in the refrigerator. Don't use
running water.
- Reduce dishwashing.
Most dishwashers don't require pre-rinsing. Limit dishwasher use to
full loads.
-
Low Flow Shower
Heads.
New showerheads use no more than 2.5
gallons per minute, therefore saving you water and energy. By
replacing your older showerhead for a new one, an average family of
four can save $150 on electric hot water or $60 gas. The
amount of water saved per year equals about 15,000 gallons!
Call Keith McDonald Plumbing
to have your new showerhead installed.
- Low Water Use
Toilets.
If you want to know where the most water is wasted in your home,
turn to your toilet. The average toilet uses an astounding 4
to 7 gallons of water for every flush! Replacing your old,
inefficient toilet with a new low volume toilet can save around 5
gallons of water per use.
If you are not ready to make the move to a new toilet, you should at
least check to see that your current toilet is working correctly.
You can simply check for leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in
the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without flushing,
you have a leak. For a low-volume water toilet solution, we highly
recommend Toto toilets. If you are interested in a new low
water use toilet, give
Keith McDonald Plumbing
a call.
- Fix leaking faucets and
toilets. Research has
shown that an average of 8% of all home water usage is wasted through leaks.
- Shorten your shower by
one minute. Cut back on
your shower time and you will rack up big savings in water and energy.
- Wash only full loads of
laundry. You'll not only
save water, but energy as well.
- Consider purchasing
a water and energy-efficient clothes washer.
Look for the energy star label and save more water in one year than a
person drinks in a lifetime. These units create less wear and tear
on clothes, clean better and use less detergent. Some electric utilities
offer rebates for qualified models. See
www.energystar.gov for more
information.