Plumbing Service Tips for Saving on Your Water Bill | Minneapolis, MN
One of the worst parts about owning a home is having to pay the water bill, especially if you’ve got people in your family who love to waste water. The truth is, you have full control of your water bill because it depends entirely on how much water your Minneapolis, MN, household uses. With the help of a plumbing service, you can cut back on water usage and save money each month. If you’re thinking about hiring a plumber to help you save on your water bill, here’s what you need to know about some of your options.
Low-flow Fixtures
Perhaps the best thing you can do to save on your water bill (aside from changing your habits) is switching to low-flow fixtures in your home. Low-flow fixtures are a simple concept; they’re designed to use less water than traditional fixtures to save you money.
Low-flow toilets are a great choice if you’re looking to save money. Low-flow toilets typically use less than 1.6 gallons per flush, which can save you a good amount of water on a daily basis. You’ll save even more water if you’re having a plumbing service replace a particularly old toilet with a newer low-flow model.
Low-flow faucets are also a good option if you don’t want to use too much water. A plumbing service can install a low-flow faucet in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink or shower to make a serious difference in how much water you use. One thing you need to keep in mind with low-flow faucets is that you will notice a bit of a reduction in water pressure, so you might not want them in every sink in the house.
Low-flow Fixture Adapters
If you don’t want to spend a bunch of money replacing the fixtures in your home, there are other ways to convert older fixtures to low-flow ones. Not only is this an affordable alternative to buying and installing new fixtures, you can install a lot of low-flow fixture adapters without the help of a plumbing service.
The simplest option when it comes to converting a fixture to low-flow is to buy an aerator that limits the water flow in your faucets. The aerator is the little piece that screws onto the faucet where the water comes out. Replacing an aerator is as simple as screwing that piece off and putting the new low-flow adapter on. You might even be able to get these adapters free from your water company.
As far as your toilet goes, you might be able to have an adjustable flapper installed so you can control how much water enters the toilet with each flush. If you opt for this route, you should have a plumbing service professional install the flapper and help you get it calibrated. While you want to save water, it’s important to use enough water per flush that you’re breaking down waste in pipes.
Appliances
While it might not be your first thought when it comes to saving water, the appliances in your Minneapolis, MN, home can make quite the difference on your water bill. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about replacing expensive appliances like washing machines and dishwashers very often, so most households have old, inefficient models.
If you haven’t had your water heater replaced in a long time, that’s a good place to start. A plumbing service can replace your water heater in a relatively short time period without costing you too much. Not only will a newer water heater be more efficient, you can opt for a high-efficiency model or a tankless water heater if you want to save even more money.
Washing machines and dishwashers both use a lot of water to make sure things are clean, so they can cause high water bills. As is the case with water heaters, you can opt for high-efficiency models that are specifically designed to conserve water and save you money. However, even upgrading to a newer standard washing machine or dishwasher will save you a lot of money, especially if you haven’t replaced yours in more than a decade or two.
Changing Your Habits
The most important thing you can do if you want to use less water and reduce your water bill is change your habits. As much as a plumbing service can help with low-flow fixtures and efficient appliances, it’s still up to you to make sure you aren’t wasting water at home.
Showers are one of the biggest water wasters in most homes. As unfortunate as it may be, it’s simply not economical to take long showers day after day. If you’re currently taking a 20-minute shower every day, you could save a significant amount of money by cutting that time in half. The same can be said if you’re showering multiple times a day.
When you’re washing dishes by hand, make sure you fill up the sink with hot water and soap and reuse that water. Leaving the faucet running constantly is a waste of water and can cost you money at the end of each month.
Brushing your teeth is another good opportunity to save water. Once you’ve got your toothbrush wet and you’re brushing, make sure you turn off the water until it’s time to rinse your toothbrush. There’s no reason to let gallons of water run down the drain while you brush your teeth.
Give Us a Call
At the end of the day, nobody wants to spend a fortune on their water bill or waste water. If you want to conserve water in your Minneapolis, MN, home and cut back on monthly expenses, you need to put some effort in and hire a plumbing service.
When it comes to saving water, Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains makes it easy. Whether you need a plumbing service to check for leaks or install new fixtures, we’ve got you covered. If you want to reduce your water bill, call Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains at (952) 209-9329.
