Happy New Year Greensboro, NC, and welcome to 2018. Every year we set new goals and resolutions. However, every year most of us fall short of achieving them. Taking action can be a hard thing, especially when it comes to trying something new.
If saving money is on your resolution list this year then you might just be able to cross this one off. Check out these tips on how to save money on your water bill in 2018.
Use Greywater to Water Your Plants
Give reduce, reuse and recycle more meaning this year by using Greywater to water your indoor and outdoor plants. Greywater is gently used or wasted water that typically comes from your tubs, sinks and washing machine. This excess water accounts for almost 50% of your water bill, and reusing it is a great way to save.
Ways to collect Greywater:
- Place a bucket under the faucet in the tub while warming up water for your shower
- Scoop up the excess water after a bath
- Wash your vegetables and fruits in a bowl in the sink and reuse the water from the bowl
- Catch the water from your washing machine hose with a bucket
Take Your Car to a Carwash
You may like the feeling of opening the garage door, throwing on some tunes and washing your car in your driveway. It’s ritualistic, nostalgic, and always looks fun in movies.
But what the movies don’t show us is how much water we are wasting, and what our water bill looks like after the fact. Home car washes can use anywhere from 100-120 gallons of water per car.
That is a lot of water used unnecessarily. And when you compare those 120 gallons to a local car wash that uses about 20 - 40 gallons, it’s not hard to see why switching up your routine may be a good thing.
Check Your Home for Leaks
Don’t fall victim to water leaks, check your home regularly. It can seem tedious but will pay out in the long run. Household leaks are very common and commonly missed if you’re not paying attention.
Listen for running toilets, and check for surface water around pipes and faucets. A little bit goes a long way, and even the smallest leak will add up on your water bill over time.
And remember, whenever one is found, you must call a professional plumber to fix the situation. If your usage is pretty much the same every month, but notice an increase on the meter, it might be time to do a whole home check.
Shower Instead of Taking Baths
Skip the suds and opt for a piping hot shower instead. Taking a ten-minute shower over a bath can reduce your water usage by 16 gallons per wash.
The standard bathtub fills about 40 gallons of water. Most people don’t fill it right to the top, so it averages about 36 gallons per wash.
Remember, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to how much you want to spend this year. Say goodbye to 2017, and hello to 2018, the year of saving!