Saving water also helps you save money in your Arizona home. Simple changes can result in significant savings whether you want to reduce household expenses or contribute to conservation efforts. Learn more about some basic changes that you can make that will help you slash your water bill.
Indoor Water-Saving Tips
While outdoor water usage often represents a large portion of the average Arizona household’s consumption, there are still plenty of ways to reduce water use indoors.
Installing water-efficient fixtures is one of the best ways to reduce your home’s water usage. Look for WaterSense-labeled faucets, showerheads, and toilets. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program certifies appliances that use at least 20% less water than standard models. Simply by choosing a low-flow showerhead model, you can save as much as 2.5 gallons of water each minute!
Toilets consume nearly 30% of indoor water in homes. Replacing an older toilet with a WaterSense model can save approximately 13,000 gallons of water per year. If replacing your toilet isn’t an option, consider installing a dual-flush conversion kit, which gives you control over the amount of water used as you flush. Kitchen and bathroom faucets can use up to 2.2 gallons of water per minute. Switching to a WaterSense faucet or adding an aerator to your current one can cut water usage by 30% or more.
Leaky faucets, toilets, and pipes are common culprits of high water bills. Regularly check all fixtures for leaks and fix them immediately. Even small leaks can add up over time. Toilets often have silent leaks, which can be tricky to detect. You can test for a leak by adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If the color seeps into the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
Showering accounts for a significant portion of indoor water use. While installing a low-flow showerhead helps, shortening your showers can also make a big impact. Reducing your shower time by just a few minutes can save thousands of gallons of water each year. Invest in a simple shower timer to remind everyone in your household to limit their time in the shower. Even cutting back by a minute or two can result in noticeable savings.
When it comes to appliances, your washing machine and dishwasher are two of the biggest water users. Newer models are much more water-efficient than older ones. Suppose it’s time to replace your washing machine. Choose a high-efficiency model. These machines use significantly less water per load than older top-loading machines, sometimes as much as 50% less. Regardless of the type of washing machine or dishwasher you have, make sure to run full loads whenever possible. Running your appliances less frequently will reduce your overall water usage.
Outdoor Water-Saving Tips
Arizona’s hot, dry climate makes outdoor water conservation especially important. Smart landscaping choices, efficient irrigation, and mindful pool maintenance can help you save as well.
Traditional lawns require a lot of water, especially in Arizona’s hot climate. Xeriscaping is a landscaping technique that uses drought-resistant plants and minimizes the need for irrigation. By opting for xeriscaping, you can drastically reduce your outdoor water use while still enjoying a beautiful yard. Choose native Arizona plants like agave, cactus, mesquite trees, and desert marigolds. These plants thrive in dry conditions and require minimal watering. You can also replace grass with gravel, mulch, or decorative rocks.
For homeowners with gardens or lawns, learning how to conserve water while watering is important. Overwatering is a common problem in Arizona, where evaporation rates are high. To reduce evaporation, water your foliage in the morning or evening. Midday watering wastes water as it quickly evaporates in the heat.
If you have a pool, it’s also important to consider reducing water loss there and evaporation is the key to cutting back on pool-related water expenses. One of the simplest ways to reduce water loss is by using a pool cover. Covering your pool when it’s not in use reduces evaporation by up to 95%, helping you save thousands of gallons of water each year. Regularly check your pool’s water levels and adjust them as needed. Overfilling the pool can lead to unnecessary water loss through splashing and overflow.
Mindful Water Habits
Along with updating your home’s fixtures and landscaping to use less water, being more aware of how much you use can make a big difference in lowering your water bill.
Water conservation is a team effort. Teach your kids and other family members why it’s important to save water and encourage them to start doing things that will help them do that. If everyone in the house does simple things like turning off the water while you brush your teeth or taking shorter showers, it can make a big difference.
Though Arizona is known for its dry climate, the state still experiences seasonal rain. Collecting rainfall can help you limit your reliance on municipal water supplies for tasks such as watering plants and gardens. Rain barrels are an inexpensive and easy way to harvest rainwater for later use. Install rain barrels beneath your home’s downspouts to collect and store water during rainstorms.
Washing your car at home can use up to 100 gallons of water, especially if you leave the hose running. Instead, consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water, or wash your car less frequently to save water. If you do wash your car at home, use a spray nozzle with an automatic shut-off feature to minimize water waste. This ensures water is only used when necessary.
How A Professional Plumbing Company Can Help
A professional plumbing company can help Arizona residents save money on their water bills by providing expert assessments and repairs. Licensed plumbers are trained to detect leaks and inefficiencies in your plumbing system that would go unnoticed by the average homeowner. For example, they can perform thorough inspections to detect hidden leaks behind walls or beneath floors, which can result in significant water loss over time. By promptly repairing these leaks, homeowners can avoid high water bills and extensive property damage. Plumbing professionals can also recommend water-saving fixtures and appliances that follow local regulations, ensuring that you make decisions that maximize water efficiency and reduce waste.
Additionally, a professional plumbing company can help with regular maintenance, which is essential to protect your plumbing system and avoid costly emergencies. By scheduling routine inspections and maintenance, plumbers can detect minor issues before they become major problems that necessitate costly repairs. Routine drain cleaning, for example, can help to prevent clogs and backups that would otherwise result in emergency calls and increased water usage. Furthermore, many plumbing companies provide maintenance plans that include regular check-ups at a discounted rate, which helps to reduce your long-term costs.
Contact Us Today
Ready to save money with your water bill? Contact Air Control Home Services today and we can help you make changes to your plumbing system and home technology in order to save dollars and conserve water. We also can help you with air conditioning, heating, indoor air quality, water heater, pipe repair, lighting, EV charger, and whole home wiring needs.
