Five Simple Ways To Cut Down Your Water Usage
Water is a resource that should be limited. We use it daily, but it is
possible that at times we may be using it too much. Here are some tips
on how to save water in your Sterling home.
Reuse Cooking Water
Those who cook with water need to learn how to reuse water that is cooking
the food. If the water is being used in something like pasta, then there’s
no problem with reusing the water when cooking another type of pasta,
potatoes, boiled eggs, vegetables or other types of foods.
As long as the water won’t alter the taste of the food being cooked,
then reuse water as much as possible when cooking separate foods.
Collect Cold Water
There’s always some cold water coming from the faucet before the
water will turn hot, but it’s best not to let the water go down
the drain to go to waste. Collect the cold water in something so it can
be used again for the plants, drinking water, cleaning water or something else.
Just because the water doesn’t get hot as quickly as you’d
like, doesn’t mean it should go to waste in the meantime.
Limit Baths
Taking a bath can be extremely relaxing and a refreshing way to clean the
body, but baths take up a lot of water. Baths can easily take up to 30
gallons of water or more, depending on the size of the actual bathtub.
If you have to take a bath, limit yourself to one bath a week if possible,
and choose to shower the rest of the time. Limiting baths are a great
way to save a lot of water in a home, especially if several people in
the home like to take baths.
Only Use The Washer When It’s Full
There should always be a rule only to wash clothes when the washer gets
full because it just wastes water if you don’t fill up the washer
with clothes but still fill it up with water.
Some washers will allow you to limit the amount of water that goes into
them, but the ones that don’t may be wasting water if the washer
is not full. It’s best to wait for a full washer with clothes before
running the washer.
Set A Washing Schedule
It’s a good idea to set a schedule for when clothes should be washed
in your Sterling home. Instead of washing clothes every day, set a schedule for washing the clothes every other day, so you won’t use the washer
as much, which will then ultimately save a lot more water.
Put savings in your pocket this month by cutting the water usage in your
Sterling, VA home. Call Cardinal Plumbing Heating & Air Inc. today at 703-721-8888, and
see how much you can save this month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more water does a bath use compared to a shower?
A standard bath uses somewhere between 25 and 45 gallons depending on how full the tub is filled. A typical shower with a standard showerhead uses about 2 gallons per minute, so a 10-minute shower uses roughly 20 gallons — less than most baths. Switching from daily baths to showers most days of the week is one of the higher-impact changes a household can make, especially if several people in the home prefer baths.
How do I know if a plumbing leak — not just habits — is driving up my water bill?
The quickest check is to turn off every faucet and appliance in the house, then watch your water meter. If the meter is still moving, water is flowing somewhere it shouldn’t be. A running toilet is the most common culprit — the food coloring tank test (a few drops in the tank, wait 10 minutes without flushing, then check if color appears in the bowl) is an easy way to confirm that. Outdoor irrigation systems and hose bibs are also worth checking, especially after a long winter season.
Is there a food safety concern with reusing cooking water for other dishes?
For plain water used to boil starchy foods like pasta or potatoes, there’s no food safety issue as long as the water is still hot when reused and the next item is also cooked to a safe temperature. The water picks up starch and some flavor, and can actually enhance the taste of certain dishes. For water used to cook meat or heavily seasoned dishes, reusing is generally not advisable for both hygiene and flavor reasons.
How do I know when it makes sense to replace an older washing machine for water savings?
Older top-loading washers typically use 25 to 40 gallons per load. A current ENERGY STAR-certified high-efficiency model uses 12 to 15 gallons for the same load. If your washer is more than 10 to 15 years old and you’re running several loads a week, the water and energy savings from a replacement can meaningfully offset the upfront cost over a few years — especially if utility rebate programs are available in your area.
What water-wasting habits do most homeowners not notice?
Running the tap continuously while hand-washing dishes, pre-rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher (modern dishwashers don’t need it), watering the lawn at midday when heat evaporates most of the water before it reaches the roots, and leaving a hose running unattended during car washing are among the most common. None of them feel significant in the moment, but together across a household they can account for a large portion of water use that doesn’t show up anywhere obvious on the bill.
