Save money and water by following these tips.

Most people are not aware of how small adjustments in water conservation can bring a significant impact. According to Statista, “An average U.S. family of four pays about 72.93 U.S. dollars for water every month as of 2019 if each person used about 100 gallons per day.” Homeowners can save money and reduce wasteful water usage by making easy changes in the home. We’ve put together a quick list of changes you can make to help conserve water. Remember, you can find a pro to do it for you at Porch.

Some quick and easy ways to save water in:

Kitchen

• Installing a low-flow faucet on your sink will help you save around 3.5 gallons of water per minute.
• Instead of using your faucet to wash vegetables and fruits, fill your sink with water and wash them with a vegetable brush.
• Instead of the garbage disposal, place food scraps in your compost pile.
• Running your garbage disposal on alternate days can help you save around 30 gallons/week.
• Please don’t leave the water running when doing dishes; soap them first and then rinse.
• Use less detergent to wash your dishes; this will help you rinse them faster and with less water.
• Use an efficient dishwasher that uses less water per cycle will help you achieve the same goal.
• Make sure that your dishwasher is full and avoid pre-rinsing. If it’s just a few dishes, do them by hand.
• Instead of running the tap until the water is cold, keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator.

Laundry

• Front-loading machines are energy- and water-efficient, as they use only 20 gallons a load.
• Avoid the permanent press cycle and adjust your machine setting to match the proper load.
• A fully loaded washing machine gives optimum water conservation.

Outdoors

• Avoid over-watering plants.
• Set up a rain barrel to catch water and use it for watering plants.
• Use programmable weather smart irrigation control systems.
• Replace damaged sprinkler heads and adjust them properly.
• Organize your landscape into hydro-zones to avoid unnecessary watering.
• Try different ways to reduce water evaporation, such as adding mulch and keeping the soil healthy or watering in the morning or evening.
• Rescue a 55 gallon food grade drum from entering the landfill and use the RainRecycle Rain Barrel Kit to make a rain barrel. 
• If you are using automatic sprinklers, use a rain-sensor or shut off the sprinklers during rain.
• Opt for a drip irrigation system instead of sprinklers. They save more water and focus the drip in desired areas.
• Hand-water your lawn whenever possible. It’s a relaxing activity that will help you spend time with nature and protect our water resources.
• The use of native species in the garden will reduce the need for watering.
• Covering your pool will help you save thousands of gallons of water from evaporation.
• Regularly check your pool for leaks and try to keep the water cool.
• Use water-efficient fixtures and energy star rated appliances.
• Insulate the water pipes.
• Monitor water usage.
• Check for leaks and fix them as soon as possible.

Bathroom

• Change your toilet for a high-efficiency one. High-efficiency toilets can save up to 1.3 gallons of water per flush, cutting your indoor water usage by up to 20%
• Install a water-saving showerhead. Old showerheads can use 5 to 7 gallons of water per minute. In comparison, new water-saving showerheads can cut this to 2.5 gallons per minute. It doesn’t mean your showers will be less enjoyable; it just means that water comes out more efficiently, saving you water and money.
• Take shorter showers. Leave the long showers for a nice treat on hard days.
• Don’t use the toilet as a rubbish bin. Remember that every flush wastes water and money.
• Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, shaving, or while you soap in the shower.

It’s important to keep in mind that this precious resource is pivotal for our existence. By protecting it, we’re not just saving money but also preserving water for future generations. Every drop counts.