Ways to Conserve Water and Energy with Your Bathroom and Kitchen Appliances

Water is the most abundant resource on the planet, but that doesn’t mean it should be wasted. Finding ways to conserve your use of water can save you money on your water bill and on your energy bill. There are several ways you can do this in your home.

  • Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full.
  • Replace an old showerhead or faucet with efficient low flow faucets and showerheads.
  • Look for appliances that have different load sizes for less water use.
  • Take short showers.
  • Replace old toilets with modern low flow toilets.
  • Reduce the amount of rinsing you do if you have a new dishwasher.
  • Periodically check your plumbing system for leaks.

You can reduce the amount of water you use with low-flow toilets, showers, and faucets.  Also don’t leave the water running while you are using it such as when you brush your teeth or clean the dishes.

You can also lower your electric bill by being more conservative with your use of appliances.  Here are some suggestions.

  • Lower the setting on your water heater.
  • Run appliances for the shortest amount of time possible, such as with washing machines or dishwashers.
  • Wash clothes in cold water.
  • Look for energy efficient appliances even if you have to pay a little more.
  • Follow the directions on use for all appliances, including the type of product you use in them to allow them to work more efficiently.

Contact your local plumber to install the water and energy efficient appliances that you need.  Your local plumber can also suggest the right faucets to buy and which products will benefit you the most.  If you have a trusted plumber, listen to their advice on which appliances and items to choose.

Save Energy by Reducing Hot Water Use

You can save money and energy every month by reducing hot water usage in your home.  Less energy use means reduced greenhouse gasses so by following a few energy saving tips, you’ll keep more money in your wallet at the same time you help conserve the environment.

Fixing leaks in plumbing fixtures wastes less hot water and results in savings on energy bills and water bills.  If you have leaky faucets or showerheads, have them fixed or replaced by a qualified faucet repair plumber.  If you are replacing faucets or showerheads, ask your plumber to install low-flow fixtures.

Modern faucets and showerheads use far less water than older fixtures while still providing excellent water flow.  By federal law, all showerheads and faucets have flow rates no higher than 2.5 gallons per minute which is less than half of some fixtures sold before 1992.

Low flow showerheads come in two types:  laminar flow and aerating.  Aerating showerheads have an aerator that mixes air with the water much like a faucet.  Laminar flow showerheads use individual streams of water.  Both save money and energy by conserving hot water, but aerating showerhead create a little more steam and moisture in your bathroom and may be better suited for climates where humidity is not a concern.

Some homeowners have been dissatisfied with the performance of their low flow fixtures, but if you purchase fixtures with the Watersense label, you can be assured that the fixture has been tested by and independent laboratory and found to use less water without sacrificing performance.