Start By Replacing Your Toilets
The average family of four uses 1500 liters of water with literally half of that running down the drain. The biggest water guzzlers are old toilets (1995 or older).
An older toilet uses 3.5 liters per flush, whereas a new one uses 1.28 liters per flush. For a relatively small cost, replacing an older toilet with a newer low flow toilet can reduce water consumption by 60% and can save a family of four $90 a year or $2000 over the life of the toilet.
How Old is Your Dishwasher?
A pre-1994 dishwasher waste more than 10 gallons of water per cycle compared to a new ENERGY STAR model. Today's dishwashers use less than half as much energy and water as those made before 1994. Since almost 60% of the energy a dishwasher uses goes toward heating water, models that use less water also use less energy.
Energy and water savings can be even more impressive in dishwashers displaying the ENERGY STAR label. In addition, new dishwashers usually don't require rinsing before loading. Whether you have a newer model or an older dishwasher it still makes sense to do full loads.
Clean Clothes Better With a Greener Washing Machine
Washing machines are responsible for about 20 percent of the water usage in a home. Washing your laundry can use 30% less water depending on the efficiency of your machine. A load of laundry in a high efficiency machine needs less than 28 gallons of water, compared to the 70 gallons needed for the average machine.
The improved machines don't waste water by filling the tub. Instead they spin or flip clothes through a stream of water and match water levels with amount of clothes, and they rinse by repeatedly spraying clothes with high-pressure water.
Additional Water Conserving Tips
If you are not ready to purchase a new washing machine or dishwasher; here are some simple water saving suggestions:
- Wash only full loads in the dishwasher.
- Match the water level setting to the size of the laundry in your washing machine.
- Replace old shower heads with new low-flowing shower heads. This is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
Check for leaky faucets and toilets. Although usually not a major source of water wasted, it can cause major water damage in the home. If you are not sure there is a leak, check your water meter and then check it again in two hours. If the gauge has moved and there has been no usage, call your local plumber.
Now more than ever, conservation doesn't require a lifestyle change! Call the professionals of Mark Johnson Plumbing at (318) 257-6167 to see how easy it is to conserve water in your Ruston home.
