April is Earth Month- Here's How You Can Celebrate at Home!

3 Easy Ways for Homeowners To Conserve Water In Observance of Earth Month

Throughout the month of April, many homeowners are challenging themselves to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize waste this year. One great (and painless) place to start is to conserve water. Not only is water a precious, finite resource on this planet, but it also takes considerable energy to supply and process it.

Conserving household water is easier than most people think. It only takes a little awareness and a few minor adjustments in the daily routine. After a few days, it becomes less of a challenge and more of a fun game everyone in the house can play. Read on to discover three virtually effortless ways to conserve water.

Leave the Tap Off While Shaving or Brushing Teeth

turn off Letting the faucet run when there’s nothing under it is one of the biggest causes of water waste in most homes. Leaving the water on while brushing teeth needlessly wastes around 6-8 gallons per day per person. But that’s an obvious example - there are plenty of other instances where the tap can be turned off to save water.

While shaving, homeowners can save water by only turning the tap on to wet and rinse the blade. The same principle applies to handwashing dishes and even washing hands. Instead of thawing frozen food by running cold water over it, plan ahead and thaw it overnight in the fridge. The whole family can have fun finding the minimum faucet runtime needed for any given task!

Try Taking a Shorter Shower - Or a Long Bath

bath Generally speaking, showering uses less water than filling up a bathtub. But this rule largely depends on the flow rate of the showerhead and the duration of the shower. A quick 5-minute shower with a typical showerhead takes relatively little water. But for longer showers, the water volume can quickly eclipse what’s needed to fill a tub. For those who prefer to luxuriate and take their time while they bathe, a bath may be a better option - but it helps to only fill the tub partway.

Standard modern shower heads have a maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), while some older models use as much as 5 GPM. Even a five-minute shower using the latter type will use almost as much water as it takes to fill up a basic alcove bathtub. Homeowners with standard showerheads - old or new - may want to consider upgrading to water-saving models to further improve water conservation.

Have Pipes and Fixtures Inspected for Leaks

Small and unseen leaks cost the average household thousands of gallons of wasted water every year. Faucets, valves, joints, and pipe fittings or couplings can spring tiny leaks that may go undetected for months. On top of wasting loads of water, these leaks can cause extensive damage to the home and develop into massive problems. Homeowners can only benefit from hiring a professional to perform a thorough plumbing inspection and leak detection service - not just to identify potential water waste but to help ensure the health of their plumbing system.

About Towers Plumbing

Towers Plumbing has been making customers happy in Salt Lake City, Utah, since 1942 - and they have the 5-star reviews to prove it. Their courteous, attentive experts are available 24/7 for emergencies. They offer financing and membership plans as well as a total satisfaction guarantee on their water leak detection services in Salt Lake City.