Wasting money can be fun if you’re spending it on your favorite candy bar or a new pair of shoes. But no one wants to waste their hard-earned money on plumbing problems. Even small issues could be costing you a lot of money. The good news is that there are lots of different ways to keep your monthly water bill from costing more than it should every year.
Plumbing Tips to Save Money
In many cases, you can save a lot of money on your plumbing by just adjusting the way you do things or by changing a few habits. Plumbing tips that are absolutely free can be a great place to start when you’re drowning under high water bills. You can also invest in upgrades for your plumbing that can save money on your water bill. We’ve put together a few plumbing tips from each category, so you can save money starting today!
Check Your Water Meter
One of the biggest ways that water can get wasted is when you have a leak that you don’t know about. If the leak hasn’t been causing any obvious damage to your home, you might not even know it’s there. You can make sure you don’t have any hidden leaks by checking your water meter. Turn off all of your taps and check the number on your water meter. Avoid using any water for an hour or two, and then check the meter again. If it’s still ticking, you’ve got a leak.
Watch for Other Signs of a Leak
There can be other hints that you may have a leak, too. Look for dark stains on your ceiling or walls or a musty smell in your house. You may also notice puddles inside or outside your house, lush areas on the lawn, or low water pressure. Water bill savings always start with making sure your plumbing is in good condition.
Focus on Your Water Usage
Changing your habits just a little can save a lot of money. Try cutting down the time you shower by one minute. You’ll save 2.5 gallons every shower, which can add up to as much as 78 gallons every month. You can also make sure to run only full loads of laundry (or adjust your settings to use less water for smaller loads.) Also, using cold water in your laundry machine can save energy and help your clothes to last longer.
Fix or Upgrade Those Dripping Faucets!
If you’re ready to spend a little money to upgrade your plumbing, start with your leaky faucets! Leaky faucets can waste as much as 3,000 gallons of water every year. You can also add aerators to your faucets. Faucets with aerators use as much as 27 gallons less every day, and there are many options on the market for water-efficient faucets and shower heads.
Have Your Plumbing Inspected
One of our best plumbing tips to save money is to have your plumbing inspected every few years. Corrosion, tree roots, shifting ground, and other factors can cause leaks over time. Inspections can ensure that there are no problems in your pipes that can lead to leaks. Investing a little in maintenance can result in water bill savings over time.
Install a Tankless Water Heater
If you have a water heater that is 10 years old or older, you’ll probably have to replace it soon. Why not replace it with a more efficient option that will save you on your monthly water bill? Tankless water heaters can save a lot of money because they heat water as you need it instead of storing hot water 24/7. They also last about twice as long as a traditional water heater. If a tankless water heater isn’t for you, there are still plenty of efficient tanked water heater options that can help you save money on your water bill, too.
Upgrade your Appliances
A new water heater is not the only upgrade that can save money. Investing in efficient laundry machines and dishwashers can make a big difference, too. You should always check any appliance that you buy to make sure it’s Energy Star rated.
Install a New Toilet
Toilets can last a long time, so they may not be replaced as often as other things in your home. But a toilet that is more than a decade old will use up to 5 gallons of water per flush. Today, it’s mandated that toilets cannot use more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Some use even less, so there are plenty of options on the market.
Call the Professionals at Craftsman Plumbing
If you are frustrated every month by your water bill, it doesn’t have to stay that way! Even small and inexpensive upgrades to your plumbing can make a big difference. At Craftsman Plumbing, we are always happy to help you find even more ways that you can save money every month.
For more plumbing tips, information on our plumbing services, or to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled professionals in the Seattle, WA area, contact us online or give us a call today at (206) 855-6110.