Water Dripping From FaucetIf you are looking for ways to save more water at home, the best and safest way is to buy energy and water-efficient products, ranging from toilets, washing machines and dishwashers to sprinkler nozzles. Even though they can save both your water and money in the long run, they may outweigh your current budget. However, check out 5 ways to save more water at home (and more money for utility bills), without investing much.

Get a dual-flush toilet

Installing dual-flush toilets may significantly contribute to saving water. Basically, a dual-flush toilet treats solid waste differently from liquid waste, which makes it different from standard American type toilets. More specifically, it comes with two flush options: liquid waste is disposed of with a half-flush, while a full-flush is reserved for solid waste. In that way, you save can save as many as 3 gallons of water per flush, since a standard full-flush uses 3-5 gallons, as opposed to ‘’low-flush’’ which uses only 1-2 gallons. Take a look at more water-efficient sanitary ware.

Install low-flow showerheads

A long hot shower can use up to 10 gallons of water per minute, whereas the low-flow option uses less than 2 gpm (gallons per minute). If you don’t want to cut down on the amount of time you spend in the shower, consider having water-efficient showerheads – they are relatively cheap and easy to install. You can save approximately 8 gallons of water per minute with every relaxing shower you take!

Install aerators on all faucets

Aerators are a perfect and inexpensive option for your kitchen faucet. For around $5, you can save 280 gallons of water per month. Besides being a low-cost option, aerators are easy to install. The simple trick with aerators is that they function like a sieve: the water flow is reduced by mixing water with air. A single flow is therefore divided into tiny streams. Many users don’t even notice the difference in water pressure, some even say the pressure is lighter since the flow is controlled, which is also a major plus for having aerated faucets.

Check for leaks regularly

Don’t risk wasting hundreds of gallons of water due to an undetected leak. Make sure you run a regular check for leaking pipes and faucets. There are a few simple things you can do to check if there are any leaks. For example, put food coloring in the toilet tank – if the water in the toilet bowl changed its color, there is a leak in your toilet. In most cases, you can fix that yourself. Also, check your water meter before and after a two-hour period of time when you don’t use water. If the reading on the meter is not the same, there is a leak somewhere in the house, so you’d better call your plumber to have a look at it.

Insulate hot water pipes

Since most water pipes are uninsulated, they don’t store the heat but rather give it off. Consequently, water heaters have to work harder and longer to make up for the lost heat, which inevitably results in higher energy bills. One way to prevent that is to insulate the pipes using a pre-slit foam pipe insulation or fiberglass pipe insulation. Most insulation options are available in hardware stores and are economical and easy to install. However, most people are reluctant to insulate hot water pipes themselves, so they choose to hire a plumbing service for maximum efficiency.

And don’t forget…

If you really want to start doing things differently and become more environmentally-conscious, you also have to change the habits regarding water usage. Think about the amount of water you waste every day without being aware of it. Why get rid of surplus water when you can use it for something else? For example, when rinsing fruit and vegetables or running water while waiting for it to heat or when accidentally dropping ice cubes, collect the ‘’leftover’’ water and use it for watering the plants or flushing the toilet. The tricks are always simple, but the saving is great.