We have experienced record-breaking heat this summer, and nearly every city in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has found it necessary to enact water restrictions to conserve water. We can avoid these measures in the future if more people learn ways to conserve water at their homes. Conservation not only saves water for everyone, but those who participate in the effort also benefit from lower utility bills.
Repairing leaky faucets, toilets and water pipes is the most effective conservation practice you can have, and fixing small leaks before they become major problems is preferable, as well as cost effective. A small drip can waste 20 gallons of water every day, and larger leaks waste even more!
Some leaks are easy to spot, but others are less noticeable. A toilet may leak without any obvious signs, so add some food coloring to the tank and see if the water in the bowl colors within half an hour, which is an indication of a leak. Read your water meter, see that nobody uses water for two hours and read it again. If the readings are not the same, you have a leak. If you have a pipe underground that leaks, it can cause foundation problems for your home in addition to a costly water bill. Many conservation-conscious and thrifty homeowners are choosing to have annual plumbing inspections at their homes, which reveal potential problems while they are still small and easy to fix.
In addition, consider replacing older faucets and showerheads with water-saving fixtures to use less water for washing and showering. Three-fourths of indoor water usage in most homes is in the bathroom, and one-fourth of that usage is for toilet flushing. An ordinary toilet uses four gallons of water every time it flushes, but a water-saving toilet uses only half as much, so installing one would create a significant savings over time.
Berkeys Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning offers annual plumbing tune-ups in Plano and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Our licensed plumbers in Plano will conduct a complete inspection of your home plumbing system, including:
- Operation of all under-cabinet water supplies
- All exposed drain lines for leaks
- Check and adjust toilet flush
- Inspect and adjust handles on all faucets
- Proper installation of water heater
- Water pressure
- Garbage disposal
- Tub and shower drains
- Locate sewer line access
- Outside hose bibs for leaks
- Gas line for leaks
Changing some habits can be a simple way to save lots of water:
- Sweep sidewalks, driveways and decks instead of hosing them off with water.
- Use a bucket of soapy water to wash your car, and then use the hose only for rinsing to save nearly 150 gallons of water each time.
- Water your lawn less frequently, and make sure the water goes on the lawn, not the street.
- Use garbage disposals sparingly because you must use lots of water when operating them.
- Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator overnight, or in your microwave, rather than under running water.
- Instead of letting drinking water run from the faucet until it gets cool, keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator to have a cold glass of water available any time you want it.
- Wait until you have a full load to run dishwashers and clothes washing machines.
- Fill one basin with soapy water for washing and one with hot water for rinsing when doing dishes by hand. You will use less water than rinsing dishes under running water.
- Do not leave water running while shaving, brushing teeth, washing hands and face or showering. Use water for wetting your face, toothbrush, hands, hair and body and again when it is time to rinse.
- Do not use the toilet to flush insects, tissues or anything that can be disposed of in the trash.
- When you need to run water until it gets hot or cold, run it into a pitcher instead of down the drain, and save it for watering plants or cleaning.
Forming new habits, along with repairing all plumbing problems in Plano and installing efficient fixtures, can give you a significant savings on your utility bills as well as contribute to conserving our precious supply of water.
For expert plumbing services in Plano, call Berkeys at 877-BERKEYS.