You’d be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn’t like to lower his utility bills, especially in the winter. As gas bills soar during the colder months, many homeowners find it hard to keep up with their other utilities. But did you know that a large portion of each household’s water bill comes from wasted water usage? Here are a few things you can do to reduce excess usage and lower your water bill.
1. Fix that leaky faucet. Besides making an annoying dripping sound, leaky faucets can waste anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 gallons of water each year. Replacing or repairing a leaky faucet will eliminate the drip and bring your bill down.
2. Curb the flow. Do your faucets and shower heads gush excessive amounts of water when you turn them on? Installing aerators in your system will curb the water flow and allow each faucet and shower head to expel the appropriate amount of water.
3. Check your toilets. If your toilet tank leaks or the toilet is always running, you could waste tens of thousands of gallons each year. One way to tell if your toilet is leaking is to put a couple drops of food coloring in the the tank. If the water in your bowl changes color within 20 minutes, you have a leak.
4. Install a low-flow shower head. You waste a lot of water when you shower, and a low flow shower head will curb the output of water from your shower head to help you use less. Additionally, baths can require up to 20 more gallons of water than showers, so you should shower more often than taking a bath.
5. Schedule regular plumbing maintenance. Even if you plumbing is running smoothly, there could be trouble lurking. Having your plumbing inspected regularly will help you catch problems before they arise and save you from paying for repairs in the future.
With a small amount of work, you can make a big difference in your water bill. If you would like to schedule future plumbing service for your Metro Detroit home, or you have an urgent problem that you need help with right away, contact Heaney Plumbing & Heating today!