This summer has officially been the hottest on record for WA. With water restrictions in full swing, it might be time to make sure you aren’t using up any water unnecessarily. We have put together the top 5 things in your home that could be costing you a lot more than you thought, as well as some tips to decrease your water use in general.
#1: Hand washing dishes
Washing your dishes by hand can actually cost you more than using a dishwasher in the long run. Dishwashers use between 16 and 24 litres of water per normal cycle – even less on an eco-friendly setting. Studies have shown that handwashing can use anywhere from 15 to 300 litres of water! This is especially true if you leave the tap running to rinse dishes.
Useful tips:
- Rather than rinsing your plates and pots under running water, scrape the excess into the bin.
- Set your dishwasher to the ‘Eco’ setting.
- Don’t have a dishwasher? Put the plug in and pre-fill the sink. If you have two sinks, use one for soapy water and one for rinsing to limit the amount of water you use.
#2: Leaving the water running while you shave or brush your teeth
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people leave the tap running while they brush their teeth. This can waste a lot of water, especially if you brush for the recommended 2 minutes. The same goes for shaving your legs in the shower – leaving the water running as you do can waste a lot of litres.
Useful tips:
- Fill the sink a third or halfway with water while shaving your face, and rinse your razor in this.
- Have a cup of water on standby to rinse when brushing your teeth instead of drinking from the tap.
- Use a cup of water when shaving your legs to rinse the razor instead of leaving the shower running.
#3: Old washing machines
A newer washing machine with a WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme) rating can use up to two-thirds less water than older models. It’s estimated that half the water savings from the WELS scheme come from washing machines alone. Ideally, look for a 4-star WELS rating to save up to 50 litres per load.
Useful tip:
- Only running the machine with a full load will save you a lot of water on top of what a WELS-rated machine will already save you.
#4: Leaking taps/toilets
Leaking toilets often go undetected, but they can use up to 9000 extra litres of water a year.. If there is a constant trickle of water into the toilet bowl, you may have a leak. In the case of a leak, call a plumber to get it fixed as soon as possible.
A dripping tap can waste up to 10,000 litres of water a year – something that is easily remedied! If you’ve got a leak, you might need to install new spouts for your taps. We recommend the Ezyfix range of DIY tap fittings. They take just a few minutes to install and have a WELS rating of 5 stars, meaning they are extremely water efficient.
#5: Inefficient shower heads
More than 20% of all our household water consumption comes from the shower – the standard showerhead uses between 15-25 litres of water per minute. You can reduce your shower water consumption by 25% just by switching to a water-efficient shower head, which uses as little as 6-8 litres per minute.
The Revolution Shower by Ezyfix is easy to install, and has a 3-star WELS rating and is a sure way to save on your water bills. Click here to read more about the benefits of the Revolution Shower, and here to read more on the Revolution AIR model.
Useful tips:
- Cut your shower time down for further water savings – try to keep it around 4 minutes – or cut down your normal shower time by just 2 minutes to start seeing a difference in water consumption.
- Catch the cold water that runs before your shower heats up in a bucket, and use that water for the garden – every litre counts!
To find out more about how the Ezyfix range of DIY fixtures can reduce your water consumption, contact us today!
