This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission. Thanks.
There are many easy ways to conserve water that will help you save money. Slight adjustments here and there can quickly add up to make a huge difference. This article will give you practical water-saving tips and, at the same time, save you money.
Why You Should Conserve Water and How Much Can You Save?
Did you know, according to the EPA, each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home? For a family of four, that is over 300 gallons of water a day. While conserving water is necessary for the environment, it can also help you save money. Making minor adjustments each and every day can add up to significant savings. You could save thousands annually by completing the following suggested adjustments.
Ways To Conserve Water Inside Your House
1. Take Shorter Showers
According to the EPA, the average shower lasts 8 minutes and uses more than 16 gallons of water. Shaving just three minutes off your shower can save over 2100 gallons of water per year!
2. Install a Water Saving Shower Head
Installing a WaterSense water-saving shower head can save your family over $70 in water costs annually and 2,700 gallons of water. That is enough water to do 88 loads of laundry! Here’s a list of the best water saving shower heads on the market!
3. Install a Low Pressure Faucet
Install a low-pressure faucet – Retrofitting your sinks with WaterSense faucets in bathrooms and kitchens could help save enough water equal to taking 45 fewer showers a year! That’s over 700 gallons of water saved, and the money you save will pay for those new faucets in as little as a year. Here’s a detail articled to learn more about low-pressure faucets.
4. Turn of the Tap when Brushing Your Teeth
Did you know you are supposed to be brushing your teeth for a whole two minutes to keep them pearly white? That is about 4 gallons of water going right down the drain if you aren’t turning off the water while brushing! This simple act can save over 11,000 gallons a year for a family of four!
5. Rinse Your Shaver in the Sink
Rinse your shaver in the sink – Just like brushing your teeth, while shaving, men sometimes leave the water running to rinse their razor as they are going. An easy way to save water while keeping your razor clean is to fill up a plugged sink with warm water and rinse the razor in that as you shave.
6. Wash Dishes in a Washing Basin Filled with Soapy Water
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a dishwasher. But you can still save water if you are hand washing your dishes. Along the same lines of the shaving tip, fill up a washing basin, like this one, with warm soapy water and wash all dishes in that and only turn on the water when you need to rinse them clean.
7. Opt for the Dishwasher Over Hand Washing
If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher, use it! The average hand-washed load of dishes uses 27 gallons of water, while most dishwashers use as little as 4 gallons. It will not only save you water but save you time as well.
8. Consider a High Efficiency Dishwasher
Consider replacing your old dishwasher with a high-efficiency dishwasher. The amount of money you will save over the life of the washer will not only pay for itself but keep saving you water and money.
9. Use a Washing Basin Filled with Water to Rinse Dishes
Once you have washed the dishes in the basin, rinse it out, fill it with clean water, and rinse those clean dishes, and set them out to dry.
10. Use the Dishwasher for Full Loads Only
If you have a small family or just you, consider running your dishwasher only when you have a full load. A dishwasher will use the same amount of water for a half load as it will a full load. Running it less frequently will help you save!
11. Keep a Bottle of Drinking Water in the Refrigerator
If you are lucky enough to live in a place where you can drink the tap water, consider using a refillable water bottle or a refillable water jug in your fridge you can have crisp, clean water. This will save you from running the tap and waiting for the water to cool down enough to drink.
12. Check your Toilets for Leaks
It is easy and cheap to check to see if your toilet is leaking. If you follow these easy instructions and find that you have a leak, it could be costing you an extra $500 annually on the water you aren’t even using.
13. Don’t use the Toilet as a Wastebasket
Another way to save money on unnecessary flushing is to make sure you and your family are not using the toilet like a wastebasket. Flushing anything but human waste and toilet paper can not only be costly but can also cause clogs. Any personal care items like a tissue, tampon, or baby wipe should be disposed of in a trashcan and not flushed.
14. Get a Low Flush Toilet
The EPA estimates that homeowners can save over $100 a year on each low-flush toilet. The toilet will quickly pay for itself and will help you save money for years and years to come. Read more about replacing your toilet here.
15. Install a Dual Flush Model
A dual flush toilet, like this one, was made to reduce the amount of water used for flushing. It features two different buttons that you press; one is for liquid waste and solid waste. Having a dual flush toilet can help you save up to 67% of the water used to flush, leaving you flush with cash!
16. Use your Washing Machine for Full Loads Only
Even if you have a newer washer that allows you to set the load size, try and only use your washing machine for full loads. You may indicate that you have half an average load, but the washer still uses about 3/4 of the normal water.
17. Consider a High Efficiency Washing Machine
To save even more water, upgrade your washer to a high-efficiency washer to use less water and less energy. You will also need to switch to high-efficiency laundry detergent, which is more concentrated, therefore uses less water to make. It’s a win-win!
18. Check Faucets and Pipes for Leaks
You may be leaking water in your house and not know it, and along with the water leaking…your money is dripping away as well! You can do a few simple tests around your house that are listed here that you can find any potential leaks. One of the most straightforward tests is to check your hidden leaks by analyzing the water meter. Check the number before bed, make sure not to run the dishwasher or laundry (and there are no midnight trips to the bathroom!) And then check in the morning to see if there was any movement.
19. Insulate your Water Pipes
Another way to conserve water is to have your pipes insulated. You will waste less water while waiting for it to heat up. It protects them from expanding and contracting and a potential leak or burst. For those of you in warmer climates, it helps reduce condensation and, therefore, reduces the humidity in your house.
20. Monitor your Water Usage
If there are no leaks found, then the best thing to do is monitor your water usage. An average family of 4 uses approximately 12,000 a month. Monitor your usage over 3 or 4 months and challenge yourself and your family to lower it! See how low you can go.
21. Recycle your Water when Possible
There are many great ideas on how to recycle water. Still, some of the easiest ways are to put a bucket in the shower. The bucket collects the water as it warms up. You can then use that to water your garden or flush your toilet, take non salted cooking water and water your plants instead of dumping it down the drain, or even throw your half-melted ice cubes out into the lawn.
22. Buy Less
Buying less is one of the most underrated ways to conserve water. Consumer products are often overlooked and use nearly ⅓ of most people’s water footprint. Consider this: it takes 22 gallons of water to make one pound of plastic. That means it takes TWICE as much water to produce a plastic water bottle then is actually IN the water bottle.
23. Avoid Food Waste
Just like the products we purchase, the food we buy uses a lot of water. Agriculture accounts for around 70% of the world’s water consumption, meat being one of the biggest water consumers. You can reduce this by buying only what you need, eating leftovers instead of making a new meal, eating vegetarian, and composting any food scraps you have. This can quickly be done now with the invention of countertop compost bins like these.
Ways to Save Water In Your Garden
24. Use a Broom to Clean the Driveway
Instead of spraying down your driveway with water, take a broom and sweep it out to the road. This will not only save water but give you an excellent workout as well.
25. Don’t Run the Hose while Washing Your Car
Wash your car like you wash your dishes! Like mentioned before, to clean dishes, fill up a bucket with water and soap and use a sponge to wash down your car. When you are done, refill the bucket with clean water and splash that on your car to get the soap off.
26. Cover Swimming Pools
covering your swimming pool not only helps the heat stay in (saving you on electricity), but it also helps save water by preventing water evaporation. You will be refilling your pool less and enjoy saving more!
27. Catch Rainwater for Gardening
Gardening is a great way to help the environment in many ways. You save money by growing your own vegetables, fruits, or herbs. Still, you can also help save money by recycling rainwater to help water your garden. This can be as simple as putting out a 5-gallon plastic bucket or getting a fancy rain barrel. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money; every little bit counts.
28. Maintain your Irrigation System
Just like the pipes in your house, you want to test your irrigation system for wasteful leaks. You can find tips to self-test your irrigation system here. If there is a leak, you could be wasting up to 2600 gallons a month!
29. Water in the Morning
Watering your landscaping in the morning is the most cost-effective and water-saving way. You will use less water more effectively, therefore, saving money and water in the process.
30. Position Sprinklers Efficiency
If you are looking to install an underground irrigation system or simply putting out sprinklers attached to hoses, make sure you are efficiently positioning your sprinklers. There should be no overlap. If you need help, refer to this guide.
31. Water the Lawn only when it needs it
Your lawn doesn’t need to be watered every day. Make sure you are not wasting water and money by overwatering your lawn. Refer to this guide for more detailed information and how to make sure your lawn is adequately watered.
32. Use a Soil Moisture Meter to Judge when to Water your Garden
Take the guesswork out of watering your garden and avoid wasting water by investing in a soil moisture meter. They are relatively cheap (most under $20.00) and will ensure that you keep your garden happy and healthy.
33. Deep Soak your Lawn instead of Watering Daily
This is a method of watering your lawn to reduce runoff and waste. This method is mainly used for sprinkler systems, but those who water their lawn with a hose can benefit. Read more about how to reduce water usage by deep soaking your lawn here.
