During the warmer months of the year, we are all about water. Drinking it, watering our grass & plants, and going for a swim are daily occurrences. As much water as we use, there are ways we can practice some preservation tips. At Compass Homes we like to think that we’re doing our part, so we’ve researched to find the best water conservation tips to help us all be a little bit more conservative with our water usage.
Indoor Water Conservation Tips
- Leaky faucets & pipes waste water by the gallons and raise your water bills. Listen for running toilets; a broken seal keeps the tank trying to stay full. You can check for leaks by putting a couple drops of food coloring in the tank. Don’t flush. Check in a bit to see if water in the bowl changes color. If so, you have a leak. Keep an eye on pipes, noting any changes or leaks that develop. Get them fixed right away to prevent further issues.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Just get your brush wet, brush, and then turn the water back on to rinse.
- Use low-flow water-saving showerheads & low-flow faucet aerators (they use 2.5 gallons per minute as opposed to 5-10 gallons). Try to get family members to take shorter showers. We know, good luck with that! But shortening your shower to 5 minutes can save up to 8% of the indoor water you waste.
- Teach family members to only flush the toilet when needed. It shouldn’t ever be used as a trash can and flushed.
- One interesting idea is to keep a bucket in your shower or tub and let it fill up while you wait for the water to heat. Then use that water for watering plants. You could also use cooled pasta or potato water for plants instead of throwing it away.
- Shaving? Fill the sink with a few inches of water to rinse off your razor instead of letting the water run.
- Only run the dishwasher & clothes washer for full loads as often as possible.
- Putting food waste down the disposal uses loads of water. Start a compost pile instead or get involved in a compost program. You can find local ones that give you a bucket to fill and return. (Some farmers markets have vendors participating in this.) No water needed!
- Buy water-efficient appliances; dishwashers, sink systems, clothes washing machines, and dual flush toilets. We install many of these in our homes, and our clients love them.
- Most dishes don’t need to be pre-rinsed if you have a newer dishwasher. Just scrape & load correctly, to increase the efficiency of the dishwasher.
- When hand washing dishes, turn the water off until you need to rinse. If washing many dishes, fill the sink part way with water, instead of running water the whole time. Then rinse as needed.
- Always finding half filled water bottles or glasses around the house? Don’t pour water from them down the drain. Water plants with it instead. Remember to save the cooled water from potatoes and pasta. Keep a bucket in the kitchen to fill and you’ll waste less water. When rinsing fruits & veggies, do it over a bowl and save the water to add to your bucket.
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips
- Use a rain barrel outside for watering plants. They are easy to install and come in many different colors & designs. They could be a cool part of your landscaping.
- Plant drought-resistant plants & shrubs as part of your landscaping design. Use mulch around plants to help them retain moisture.
- Water plants & grass early in the day, so there will be less evaporation.
- Keep your grass a little longer in the summer and water if it doesn’t spring back when you step on it. When you do water, water for a longer period of time, but less frequently.
- Consider having areas of hardscaping, or even artificial grass in some areas, like beneath swing sets, entertaining areas, or in dog runs.
- If you wash your car, be sure to not let the water run while soaping it down. Only use it to rinse. Better yet, use the local car wash, since they recycle the water.
We Build With Conservation in Mind
Maybe a few of these water conservation tips will strike a chord with you. Not only could you save on your utility bill, but you’ll also help prevent water from being flushed away or wasted. Some of these ideas are simple to implement and might be a fun challenge for the family. We use products that help with water conservation, and we’d love to work with you when you build your new home in Dublin, Upper Arlington, Powell, or many other central Ohio locations!