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Go “Green” This St. Patrick’s Day!

Three Easy Ways to Conserve Water and Save on the Water Bill

Everyone wants to do everything possible to save water and money. Yet, some don’t know where to start or how much they spend each month on their water bill. This blog post will share three easy things homeowners can do to start conserving water and saving on their water bills. 

Install Water Saving Plumbing Fixtures 

low flow showerheadInvesting in eco-friendly fixtures and appliances is an effective way to save money and reduce water consumption. Some eco-friendly and water-saving plumbing fixtures include low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets. Low-flow toilets are designed to minimize the amount of water used when flushing waste. They are usually between 1.28 gallons and 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to older toilets, which can use up to 7 gallons of water per flush. 

Showerheads designed to reduce water usage can also be beneficial. Many low-flow showerheads are designed to maximize the pressure while using less water. Some only use 2 gallons or less per minute, compared to 5 or more with a traditional showerhead. Faucets are another way to save water. Many eco-friendly faucets come equipped with sensors that reduce the amount of water used when someone turns on the tap and an auto-shutoff feature, which will automatically stop the water flow if left running for too long.

Practice Mindful Water-Saving Habits 

Saving water and money isn’t a once-in-a-while habit. It’s something that homeowners must practice each day to see long-term results. Some of these practices include:

  • Turning off the faucet while brushing one’s teeth or washing dishes
  • Turning off the water when shaving or when possible in the shower, like shampooing
  • Using the dishwasher or washing machine for full loads only 

HuffPost notes that to wave water, homeowners can also take showers instead of baths, as long as the showers are short. The publication notes that a shower without a water-saving showerhead uses about five gallons of water a minute, while a bath uses around 36 gallons to fill the bathtub. Using a water-conserving showerhead will reduce the gallons of water used for a shower to 2 gallons or less a minute.

Only Flushing Toilet Paper 

watch what you flushPeople should only flush human waste and toilet paper down a toilet. Anything else could cause serious problems, from toilet clogs to creating underground fatbergs to polluting the ocean. The following is a list of items that homeowners should throw in the trash––and not flush down the toilet: 

  • Paper towels, napkins, and wipes
  • Diapers 
  • Menstruation products 
  • Food residue 
  • Cigarette butts 
  • Plastic 
  • Dental floss 

Toilet clogs can also waste water because each time a toilet flushes, it uses water. Unclogging a toilet with an average household plunger typically requires multiple flushes to clear, so preventing clogs from occurring can help reduce household water usage. 

About Heidler, Inc. 

Heidler, Inc. is a family-owned and operated business serving Annapolis, MD, and the surrounding communities since 1947. They provide flat rate pricing and a beneficial plumbing preventive maintenance agreement. Call them today for faucet, fixture, and sink services in Annapolis, MD.

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How to Avoid Getting Pinched By Rising Water Bills This St. Patrick’s Day

Go Green This St. Patrick’s Day To Save Green

Forgetting to wear green this St. Patrick’s Day is less important than failing to save green with rising water bills! In this blog post, plumbing experts share their favorite tips for cutting back water bill spending. Water conservation is good for the wallet and good for the environment. By cutting back on water use at home, homeowners can protect their wallets from getting pinched by the price of water bills and reduce their home’s environmental impact.  

Turn Off the Tap While Brushing Teeth tap

This tip applies for all tasks where the tap could be shut off, such as washing hands, washing dishes, or brushing teeth. Being mindful of how much water is being used during daily grooming and cleaning routines can go a long way in cutting back on how much water the household uses. Many people do not think that when water goes down the drain unused, it is essentially the same as money going down the drain. 

Homeowners can upgrade their bathroom plumbing to keep water costs low by installing a touchless faucet in the bathroom sink. Touchless faucets use motion-detecting technology to turn the water off automatically when not in use. This helps to prevent the faucet from being accidentally left running. 

baths vs showers

 

Take Shorter Showers

Most people think that taking a shower vs. a bath will automatically save them more water, but long showers are more wasteful than baths. To keep water expenditure low, homeowners should take five to ten-minute showers. While shampooing hair or shaving, the showerhead should be shut off for maximum water efficiency. Water use can also be limited when taking baths by using less water. 

Another option for making the shower plumbing more efficient is upgrading the showerhead. New showerheads are made eco-friendly and use less water. Low flow showerheads are designed to create more water pressure while using less water. Installing a new showerhead can reduce water use without sacrificing water pressure. 

 

Be Careful Flushing 

A clogged toilet can cause problems for the overall bathroom plumbing and increase water waste. The toilet connects to the main water line, so it can affect the entire plumbing system when a clog occurs. Another reason why clogged toilets may increase water usage is that the homeowner may need to flush multiple times to remove the clog. 

The general rule homeowners should follow is never use the toilet as a trashcan. The only thing that should be flushed down toilets is the appropriate toilet paper or wipes. Any other debris should always be disposed of in the bathroom wastebasket. 

About Heidler, Inc.

Heidler, Inc. has been serving the Annapolis area with outstanding plumbing and heating services since 1947. This trusted local company is family-owned and operated and offers flat-rate pricing, so homeowners don’t have to deal with surprise charges. Call them today to schedule an appointment with an experienced plumber in Annapolis, MD.

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