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One of the most anticipated seasons of the year, summer, also happens to be one of the most expensive. Whether it’s filling up your vehicle more often (due to road trips) or relying on your AC at all hours of the day, reviewing your monthly bills may be quite startling. However, there’s another way that you’re running up your grand total: by using more water than you actually need. To cut back on one more expense, here are some ways to save H2O with minimal effort:
Use Mulch in Your Flower Beds
Are you continually looking for ways to keep your property as picture-perfect as possible? One of the easiest ways to do that, and save water in the process, is to place mulch in every flower bed. While some homeowners will opt for bare soil, it doesn’t retain water for that long — which will prompt you to keep the sprinklers on for much longer than needed.
When you use mulch on your property, it will actually help lock in moisture and keep your plants much more hydrated than before. If you’re in search of the perfect mulch, you can visit your local home and garden store and pick up a few bags, which are typically inexpensive (depending on the blend).
Start Collecting Rainwater
Before trying this method, it’s important to know that some states have laws against collecting rainwater; check, first, if it’s permitted in your state before attempting to do it. Now, if your state legally allows this practice, then collecting rainwater will be one of the best ways to cut back on your water consumption. The perfect way to collect rainwater is to either invest in a rain barrel or create your own!
Once you have acquired or created your rainwater harvesting barrel, place it in a prime area that will get the most water and just wait for the next shower in your area’s forecast. You’ll be amazed at how effective this method is and how much you’ll cut back on using your hose bib to water your yard!
Low Flow is the Way to Go
On average, how old would you say your toilet is? For some homeowners, their “throne” could have been there since the house was initially built. Regardless of how old it actually is, now might be the perfect time to look into a low-flow toilet.
Unlike a standard toilet, this one will let you flush without using an excessive amount of water. While it may sound as if the flushing won’t be efficient, that couldn’t be further from the truth — you’ll be amazed at how incredibly a low-flow toilet functions, all while conserving water.
If you’re interested in a low-flow toilet, simply check out those that are at your local home improvement store. And if you’re looking to have one installed, always contact a licensed professional to lend a helping hand.
Take Shorter Showers
After taking a dip in the pool, most will take a shower to wash off any chlorine that they may have come in contact with. While some might have a quick rinse, a majority of homeowners will take a longer shower. No matter what season it is, if you happen to take longer showers, then you’ll be using much more water than you think.
To conserve as much water as possible, limit your showers to 10 minutes, maximum. Once adjusted to that new timeframe, make showers last no longer than 5 minutes. Within about a month, you’ll see your water bill start to dwindle down to a much more comfortable number. If you want to take things up a notch, invest in a low-flow showerhead, and you’ll be bound to save even more!
Made These Adjustments, but Your Water Bill Continues to Rise?
At Griffin Mechanical, LLC, we offer affordable, reliable service that you can trust. No matter what the plumbing problem may entail, our team of professionals can help get the job done in no time. Call us today at (615) 502-3030 to learn more about how we can help!