4 Easy Ways to Save Water
Conserving water can help you save money on utility bills, help the environment by reducing pollution, and extend your septic system’s life. If your home in Ocean City, Maryland, has a sewer system instead of an individual septic system, you can avoid expensive rates or taxes when you and your neighbors use less water. If people use the system less, the community won’t have to pay for costly repairs or expansions. You can save water by choosing drought-resistant plants, repairing leaks, finding hidden leaks, and turning off the tap.
Choosing Drought-Resistant Plants
Plant lots of succulents and perennial flowers such as lavender or sage in your garden. That way, you won’t have to water as often, and your plants will last for years. Perennials bloom every year, but annual flowers must be replanted. You can also save money by not buying lots of new annuals every year.
Many perennials tolerate poor soil well, so you won’t have to use as much fertilizer. Ornamental grasses will add an interesting feature to your garden. Coneflowers are native to the eastern United States, so they’re perfectly adapted to grow in your garden, and are available in pink, purple, or orange. You just have to plant them and keep weeds away. Aloe grows up to 3 feet tall, and the gel inside the plant is great for treating minor cuts and burns. In most areas, you’ll only need to water it every two weeks.
Other types of ground cover including clover, stonecrop, and Mexican daisy don’t grow as tall as grass, need less water, and they have beautiful flowers. You can save even more water by irrigating in the morning or the evening so the sun doesn’t evaporate as much water.
Repairing Leaks
A leaky faucet or a running toilet is more than just a minor annoyance. Even a small leak can waste thousands of gallons of water per year, which is expensive, inefficient, and an environmental problem. Leaks can also encourage mold growth and reduce your home’s indoor air quality. Mold often leads to musty, unpleasant smells and increased asthma or allergy symptoms.
Fortunately, many leaks are easy to fix. You can repair many leaky faucets by changing the washer. A leaking or running toilet is usually caused by a broken flapper, the rubber seal that stops water from draining from the tank to the toilet bowl. The chain that pulls the flapper up could also be too long or too short, or the water level in your toilet could be too high. If repairing the problem yourself seems too complicated, call a plumber for an expert solution.
Checking for Hidden Leaks
Not all leaks are as obvious as a dripping faucet or a running toilet. Check for wet spots under your sinks and your water heater. If your home has a musty smell and you can’t find the source, you could have mold from a leak inside a wall. To be sure you don’t have a leak, read your home’s water meter and then check it again after a few hours. If you haven’t used any water, the meter should have the same reading when you check it again. If the reading goes up, you have a leak somewhere.
Turning Off the Tap
Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, wash dishes, and wash the car also saves water. When you’re in the shower, turn off the water if you’re not standing under the shower head. Use a sponge and a bucket to wash your car instead of a hose. Use your dishwasher to wash a full load of dishes, and don’t rinse before washing unless you have to.
Custom Mechanical has more than 35 years of experience. We can help you with plumbing, heating, cooling, electrical service, and more. Call us anytime at 877-696-0808 for more information and excellent service from our experts.
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