Ways We Waste Water

In today’s blog, Mr. Rooter Plumbing—a professional plumbing service company, outlines the common ways we waste water and what we can do to conserve the precious commodity.

• Leaky Faucets and Pipes

Leaky faucets and pipes are arguably the biggest culprits for water waste in homes. A pipe leaking at a rate of one gallon per hour can waste 3,650 gallons of water per year. On the other hand, a faucet leaking at a rate of one drop per second can waste around 180 gallons of water per year. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of water leaks in your home and call a nearby plumbing repair service to help you locate and fix the leaks.

• Not Using Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures And Appliances

If your home was built before 1992, you could be having older and inefficient plumbing fixtures. Older toilets, faucets, and showerheads often use significantly more water than modern, water-efficient models. It’s advisable to reach out to a professional plumbing repair service to install water-efficient plumbing fixtures.

• Taking Too Long in the Shower

A low-flow shower uses about 2 gallons of water per minute. If you take 8 minutes or more in the shower, you could be wasting more than 6 gallons of water. Every minute saved in the shower translates to less water used. Implementing shorter showers, ideally 5-minute showers, or installing low-flow showerheads can significantly reduce water consumption.

• Flushing Non-Flushable Items Down The Toilet

In homes with newer, low-flow toilets, toilets account for about 25% of the average daily water usage, which is roughly 75 gallons per day. Every time you flush wet wipes or cotton swabs down the toilet, you waste 5 to 7 gallons of water. Furthermore, tissues, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, condoms, and other non-flushable items clog pipes and waste water used for unnecessary flushing. Only flush what’s meant for the toilet, and that is human waste and toilet paper.

• Overwatering Your Lawn

We get it—we all desire a lush, healthy lawn, but you don’t have to use an excess amount of water to keep it thriving. Lawns only need deep watering once or twice a week. Using sprinklers in windy conditions or watering during peak sun hours leads to water waste. Consider drought-resistant landscaping and smart watering techniques. For instance, you can use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering your lawn.

• Using The Garden Hose To Wash Down Sidewalks Instead Of Using A Broom

Using a broom or a water-efficient sprayer for cleaning sidewalks saves water compared to a hose, which often leads to overspraying.

• Half-Loading Your Washing Machine

Washing machines use the same amount of water regardless of the load size. Running full loads optimizes water usage and reduces the number of cycles needed.

Let The Skilled Plumbers At Mr. Rooter Plumbing Help You Save Water

Keeping your plumbing in good working order can save you a lot of water in the long run. If you’re looking for a trusted plumbing service that will help you keep your plumbing system in tip-top condition, look no further than Mr. Rooter Plumbing. Our experienced plumbers can help you with everything from leak detection to water leak repair, water softener installation, fixture installation, and more.