Saving Water in the Summertime
Posted on July 17, 2010
As a homeowner you have many responsibilities on your plate. Everything from decorating to managing the bills are left up to you. With all that you have to keep up with, it would be nice to get a break from some of your bills, I’m sure. Your premier Charlotte movers have great tips on how to reduce your monthly utility bills, specifically your water bill.
It’s finally summertime and that usually means that you will need to use much more water than you were using during the winter season. With the fickle weather and these economically trying times it would be safe to assume that you would want to save as much water as you can.
There is a lot that can be done to reduce the amount of water that you use. If you water your lawn at the peak of hot days you will lose a lot to evaporation and thus have to water twice as much. For starters, resetting your automatic sprinkler system to run in the evening and morning hours will help reduce the amount of times that you have to water your lawn. It is also a good idea to make sure your sprinkler arrangement is adjusted to directly water your lawn to avoid wasting water on the sidewalk or the driveway. Rain sensors will be a great addition to your sprinkler system. You will save water during the rain showers and let nature take its course. Another great option is to plant drought resistant plants that can survive on less water than conventional lawns. You can also try and reduce the area that your lawn covers by adding decorative stones or rock formations to your yard.
Washing dishes can also use a lot of water but changing the way you wash dishes can save you a lot of money. Instead of washing and rinsing your dishes all at once try filling your sink with soapy water and using that water to lather your dishes before you rinse them off. This will allow you to wash your dishes without having to run fresh water for everything you wash.
Doing the laundry also uses a lot of water. It would be in your best interest to replace your washer with an energy star rated washer if you have not already done so. According to EnergyStar.com energy star washers use 50% less water than conventional washers. If a new washer is not in your budget at the moment you can reduce your water usage by waiting until you have a full load to do your laundry. When have to use the washer, you should make sure that your washer is on the proper setting for your load size. If your washer is set to wash a large load and you’re only washing a few pieces of clothing, then you are using more water than necessary.
In the wintertime, people are not usually concerned with the condition of their driveways but in the summertime stains on your driveway are a lot easer to spot. A great way to get your driveway clean without using much water would be to use liquid laundry detergent on the affected area and let it dry, then rinse and scrub the stain away. If you have fresh oil stains, the best way to get rid of them is to apply kitty litter to the stain to soak up the oil for about a day and then simply scoop it up with a shovel.
Your bathroom is the obvious place to try and conserve water. Rather than put a time limit on everyone’s bathroom privileges, making simple changes to your bathroom will reduce the amount of water that each person uses. Low flush toilets are a great way to optimize your bathroom. Adding a new shower head to your bathroom will reduce the chances of having leaks and increase the pressure during use so less water is needed while you’re in the shower. If a low flush toilet is not an option, adding bricks to the reservoir of your toilet will result in less water usage per flush.
These small changes to the way you use water at home will save you a lot of money every month and will definitely help keep you cool for the summer.
Visit your Charlotte movers often for more money saving tips.
