Are you doing enough to save water inside and outside of your home?
It may surprise you to know that thousands of litres of water is wasted in residential properties each year. Some of the causes of water waste are more obvious than others, which is why it is important to consider how much water you use.
We offer some excellent simple tips on how to save water at home both inside and outside the house:
Did you know?
Leaking taps are one of the main culprits when it comes to wasting water. In fact, a typical home will lose up to 20,000 litres of water per year as the result of leaking taps. A slow drip may not look like much in real-time but over the long term all that water mounts up. If any of the taps are leaking, including showerheads, hire a plumber to carry out repairs. Another option is to have a water-saving showerhead installed.
How to Save Water Inside The Home
Most people like to relax in the shower but saving water at home involves a certain amount of discipline. That means shower time needs to be limited to around four minutes. You can achieve your shower goals quite easily by using a familiar song as a timer. Before you know it, you will have reduced your shower time and saved a significant amount of water in the process!
If your toilets are an older design that doesn’t include a water-saving function, you can place a large object in the cistern to reduce water usage, however, before you do this, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a licensed professional. Using less water with each flush is an incredibly effective money saver. For a more effective solution, consider upgrading your toilets.
Other top water-saving tips during in the bathroom include:
– While waiting for the shower to warm up, use a bucket to catch the water which can then be used in your garden for plants, laundry soaking or even washing your hands.
– When shaving, try to resist keeping the tap running and fill the sink with a few inches of warm water in which to rinse your razor.
– Reduce the number of baths you are taking and opt for showering instead.
It can take a few minutes for tap-water to run cold enough to drink. To combat water waste, you should keep water refrigerated so that there is no need to leave the tap running. Besides which, there is no competing with a cool drink of water straight from the fridge.
Are you in the habit of running the washing machine or dishwasher on half loads? These appliances are designed to run on full loads. You will save water by waiting until you have a full load of clothes or dishes to wash along with saving energy as well.
How To Save Water Outside The Home
Do you have a water tank? Catching rainwater is a great way to save water at home. You can use this water for inside and outside chores. The Australian Government has produced a booklet that is a helpful guide on rainwater tanks and using the water safely.
Another great tip on how to save water at home is to consider the plants in your garden and how much water they need. Planting species that require less water is the best strategy. However, it is also important to reduce water usage for the lawn and garden. Don’t keep your lawn short in the summer. When the grass is longer it helps to reduce water evaporation.
Many areas in New South Wales are currently affected by water restrictions. Familiarise yourself with permitted days and times by reaching out to your water supplier for a timetable. These restrictions are designed to help reduce water waste.
By sticking to the recommended schedule you will also see savings on your water costs. The water in outside pools and spas can quickly evaporate in summer. When not in use, it is a good idea to cover your pool or spa to save water. Covering the pool or spa will also reduce cleaning and maintenance needs by protecting against dirt and debris.
If you are planning on renovations to improve your home, speak to Houspect in New South Wales about all your building inspection needs.
We hope you enjoyed our tips on ways to save water at home. For more tips, read our water conservation blog post.
How We Can Help
We offer leading professional building inspections in Sydney, New South Wales and Australia. If you need a pre-purchase building inspection or construction stage inspections contact Houspect.
Call today to find out how we help make the purchase, sale or the building of your new home a considerably smoother process.
