6 Saving Water Tips

With the rising cost of living, homeowners all over the UK are looking for new ways to save on their bills, and that includes the water bill. With this in mind, there’s no better time than now to think about how we can save water in the home.

Many homeowners take water for granted. Since it’s so readily available, we forget about the sheer costs involved. There are so many small changes that we can make around the home that can help us to save a significant amount of water.

Below, we’ve rounded up six of the best water saving tips to help you reduce your water use and save money on your water bills.

1. Switch to Showers

If you’re someone who prefers baths over showers, it may be worth thinking about changing the way you get clean. Switching from baths to showers is one of the best ways to save significantly on the amount of water you’re using. However, it’s important to keep your showers short to ensure you make the most of the water savings.

If you already prefer showers over baths, think about cutting down your showering time. Keeping your showers to four minutes or less can help you save a lot of water. Many water companies will provide you with a shower timer for free. Get in touch with your water provider to find out if you can get one.

2. Fix Any Leaky Taps

Fixing leaky taps is one of the best and easiest ways to help you reduce the amount of water that your home is using. In many cases, you may not even know that a leak is present if it’s in a concealed space.

It’s a good idea to do some regular checks of your pipework. Check for leaks under the sink and look for any drips when your tap is switched off. If you’re concerned about any leaks in your pipework or if you’ve noticed any issues, it’s best to hire a plumber to come out and inspect these issues and complete the appropriate fixes so that you can save as much water as possible.

Many water companies also provide free ‘leak strips’ which you can place in your toilet bowl. These strips change colour if a leak is present in the toilet. Speak to your water provider to find out if you can get any of these strips for your home.

3. Avoid Running The Tap

Running your taps can waste as much as six litres of water each minute. With this in mind, it’s important to keep the taps turned off.

Many people keep the taps running without even realising. For example, when brushing their teeth or rinsing vegetables. Remember to turn the tap off while you’re brushing your teeth. Instead of rinsing your vegetables under a constant flow of tap water, consider putting some water in a bowl and using this water to rinse all of the vegetables you need.

4. Make Sure The Dishwasher is Full

Did you know that using a dishwasher can help you save around 6000L per year of water in comparison to handwashing your dishes. If you avoid pre-rinsing your dishes, you can even save an additional 1000L of water each year.

However, if you want to make the most of your dishwasher, you must ensure that it’s full before each use. Avoid putting the dishwasher on if it’s not full as you may find that you’re wasting water. Try to ensure that it’s at full capacity each time.

5. Fit Low Flow Aerators On The Taps and Showers

You can purchase these cheap adapters for your taps and showers that help to aerate your water supply. This means that you will get the same level of water pressure but you will use much less water.

This is a great way to reduce the amount of water that you’re using in the home, particularly if you install them on all of the water outlets in your property.

Some water companies will give these out to homeowners for free, so it’s a good idea to check with your water provider to see if you can get some for your home at no cost.

6. Only Fill The Kettle With What You Need

In the UK, we are a nation of regular tea drinkers. This means that the kettle is usually on multiple times a day in most households. Without the right precautions, you can waste a lot of water with your kettle use.

Only fill up the kettle with as much water as you need. This will not only help you to save on your water usage but will also help you save on your energy bills. Most kettles have indicators that show you how much water is needed for each cup.

Be sure to only fill the kettle with the amount of water that is needed for the number of cups that you plan on filling. Avoid filling the kettle up to capacity when it’s not needed as you’ll end up wasting a lot of water and energy.