It’s not a secret that our planet is running out of water, consequently it gets more expensive by the day. Most responsible people want to keep and conserve water, but we still need to use it in our daily activities; so here are some tips that you can put in practice to conserve water and save money:

The use of chemicals:

  • Don’t use too many detergents, bleach or chemicals. This could kill the natural bacteria in your septic system.
  • Try to use soaps and detergents that are biodegradable.

Sprinklers:

  • When using sprinklers in summer time, buy a spring-loaded timer, that will avoid the excessive water loading of your grass and control it in case you forget to shut it down.

Water pressure:

  • When your water pressure is over 60 pounds per square inch, it will damage your plumbing system and will also increase your consumption. If you find out that your water pressure in your street is exceeding 60 pounds, you can install a pressure reducing valve that will limit the water pressure within your home.

Water leaks:

  • Check for undetected water leaks reviewing your water meter during a period of time when you are not using water, take notes of the meter reading and check it 8 to 10 hours later. If the meter has moved, it means you should correct the issue.
  • The consumption of a leaky toilet in your house is more than 40% of all the usage. Call a plumber for advice, you may have to install a new toilet flapper and fill valve.
  • A faucet leaking that drips once per second can actually drop more than 8 gallons per day, which adds to 3,000 gallons per year. Always check your faucet.

Showers:

  • When you replace an old shower head you can save up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute without taking away full spray action at low or high water pressures. Also, don’t forget to shut off the shower when you are not using it!

An image of a leaking faucet that contributes to wasteful water habits

There are many things you can do to conserve water, put in practice these simple actions and you will see that your water bills will reflect your efforts. 

If you need us to check your home in order to detect any situations that could be wasting water, please contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Port St. Lucie at (772) 205-3132.