Come the chilly days of winter, it can be tempting to fill up a tub of hot water to soak in every night. Your showers are probably hotter than usual and you’re spending a lot more time at home, so you can finally get through those massive loads of laundry. But wait! All of this can equal a hefty highjack of your monthly water usage, and with that can come a spike in your bill. Here are some secrets to reducing your monthly water usage in the winter without freezing in the meantime.
Be Smart with Your Shower
There is nothing worse than a cold shower on an even colder day. You may even hike up the water temperature during the winter just because you know the chills are inevitable once you step out. However, this can result in a large water bill.
Fortunately, you can enjoy a nice, steaming hot shower in the winter without wasting away water (and money) simply by opting to be smart with your shower. It starts with the shower head.
Modern technology has made it incredibly easy to save on water usage. There are shower heads that decrease the amount of water released, and some that automatically shut off every time you leave the stream to grab shampoo and conditioner. So, shop around and swap out your standard shower head. It’s a smart choice that can save some water.
Spend Less Time Waiting and Wasting Water with Insulated Pipes
With the prior said, you may also want to insulate your water pipes. Chances are, you aren’t jumping into the shower when it’s pouring out freezing cold water, and you have to wait for the water to be heated. So, you wait… and you waste.
Insulating the water pipes can help heat up the water faster, which means you won’t have to wait as long for the water to be heated. Thus, it won’t be pouring down the drain for nearly as long either.
If It’s Not Full, It’s Not Turning On
You’re certainly not the only one who turns on the dishwater or run a laundry cycle even if it’s not full. However, come winter time, it’s a good idea to put an end to this bad habit. In reality, any time is a good time to stop using major appliances if they aren’t full, so might as well do it right now.
It’s true that dishwaters actually take less water to run than washing dishes by hand, but only if the dishwasher is full. So, stack them up and only press the start button when it’s full.
The same can also be said about laundry. It’s a no-brainer than washing machines take an abundance of water. So, don’t do a load until you have a full one. The good thing is that with cold-water technology, you don’t have to sort your clothes and everything can be put in at once. Thus, coming up with a full load isn’t’ as difficult as you may think.
Take Advantage of Cold Water Technology
Speaking of cold water and laundry, take advantage of this. Upgrade your washing machine to a modern version that offers cold water cycles and you’ll preserve your clothes better, while also saving water and energy.
Install A New Porcelain Throne
Installing a new toilet may not be an ideal solution for most people, but it’s still an option. If you have an older version, consider upgrading to a more modern style, preferably one that is low pressure. There are also toilets that have different water flow selections based on your… bathroom activity. So, if it’s #1 you’re not wasting water needed for #2.
Preserving water (and the world) while also saving money has never been easier. With a couple tweaks and a little elbow grease, you can cut back on your water bill and use the savings to escape the cold winter months in a far, far away (and warmer) land.
