Have you ever wondered how you can save money on your water bills? Your home's plumbing system supplies you with the water that you need. Your water usage is largely based on what you have in your plumbing system, and how you maintain it. If you devote some time regularly to do some routine plumbing checks, you can save yourself time and money down the road. Read this article for some helpful tips on what you can do to keep your plumbing in good shape.
A common area for leaks is your toilet. Leaks can go from the tank into the bowl when the flapper flange is not seated properly. As the water level in the tank lowers, the water supply line keeps supplying water to the tank. This can cause you a big expense in your water bills. You can check your toilet tank for leaks by putting some food dye into the water of your tank. After about 20 minutes, if you see color in your bowl, you can be sure that you have a leak. Get that fixed by replacing the flapper flange in your tank.
You can reduce the amount of water that you use when you shower by replacing your regular shower head with a low-flow shower head. These head use a system of water aeration that enables it to deliver a good shower force without using a lot of water. You can cut down your water usage per shower significantly if you use a low-flow shower head.
The new standard for toilets is a water-efficient toilet. An old toilet can use an average of three gallons of water per flush. A water-efficient toilet can use around 1.2 gallons. Overtime, this can add up to a huge saving in your water bill. Another advantage is that many water districts are giving homeowners rebates for replacing their old toilets with one that is water-efficient. Check with your water company about the rebate program.
Your washing machine also uses a tremendous amount of water per wash. Just like your toilet, there are water-efficient models that can save you money down the road. Check for rebate programs for high-efficiency washers.
On a regular basis, check your outdoor irrigation system for leaks. Check your pipes and your water hose. Continuous leaks means money down the drain.
Set your lawn timer to water in the early hours of the morning, before the sun comes up. This gives your plants a chance to drink in the water before it all evaporates into the air.
Fix leaky faucets right away. Sometimes the fix is as simple as replacing the washer in the fixture. Check the plumbing underneath your sinks to make sure that no leaks are developing. Regular checks like these can prevent major problems that are more costly to solve.
If you follow these plumbing maintenance tips, you can avert problems in the future. An ounce of prevention right now can go a long way in saving your time and money down the road.