Historic droughts, coupled with water overuse and waste, are the primary causes driving water problems in Arizona and throughout the high desert region. Even as a lot of effort and resources go into mitigating climate change to alleviate the water problem, especially in the dryer part of the country, every homeowner must also take up personal responsibility to conserve water.
Deliberate water conservation efforts will do more than reduce the strain on water resources and ensure the entire community has access to clean, usable water. As a homeowner, water conservation will save you money on utility bills. The good news is that you can conserve water in different ways, both inside and outside your home. With the help of a professional plumber, you can identify areas in your home that are contributing to water wastage and develop a customized plan to help you conserve water.
1. Find and Fix Leaks
Leaks in your plumbing, however small, can lead to substantial water wastage over time. Unfortunately, the average homeowner may not be keen enough to notice the symptoms of a leak. Regular check-ups and maintenance on your plumbing system will help you catch these leaks in time and fix them to avoid further waste.
A professional plumber will do a thorough job and run diagnostics on your entire plumbing system, ensuring that they don’t miss any leaks whether behind the toilets, underneath the sinks, or other hidden places. From damaged piping to water pressure problems, a professional plumber will be able to pinpoint the exact cause of each leak and fix it.
2. Invest in Water-saving Appliances and Fixtures
High-efficiency dishwashers and washing machines use water more sparingly while producing the same results as their standard counterparts. Similarly, low-flow toilets use lower levels of water with each flush. While the initial investment can be significant, the water savings from these major upgrades can also be substantial.
If you’re not quite ready for these major upgrades, you can always invest in smaller upgrades such as aerated faucets and tap sink nozzles. The nozzles add air to your water, reducing the flow of the faucets while maintaining the desired pressure.
A professional plumber can make recommendations about what upgrades your home needs and which fall within your budget and water conservation goals. Whether it’s a minor upgrade or a major one, an expert plumber will ensure that your water-saving plumbing fixture or appliance is installed correctly. Quality workmanship during the installation will ensure that you don’t have to worry about leaks and other errors that will only frustrate your efforts to conserve water.
3. Install a Hot Water Recirculation System
A hot water recirculation system will ensure that you don’t have to run cold water wastefully down the drain while waiting for hot water to arrive at your faucets or shower. By recirculating unused hot water back to the water heating source, this system ensures that each fixture has a constant water supply temperature at minimized wait times. This recirculation system not only helps with water conservation but also contributes to comfort and convenience.
A professional plumber will have the expertise required to design an efficient hot water recirculation system. This includes careful selection of the proper size material, sizes, and lengths for each recirculation loop. You can trust the same expertise for the installation of the recirculation system, ensuring that you get hot water quickly where and when you need it in your home.
4. Run Appliances on Full Load
Fully loading your washing machine and dishwasher will allow you to conserve water. Even if you set appliances to small load settings, the dishwasher or laundry machine will still use most of the water of a full load. If you only have a handful of garments that you must wash as soon as possible, washing by hand may be more water-efficient than running that small load on your washing machine. Similarly, avoiding the permanent press or wrinkle control cycle on your washer can save you a lot of water, as the extra rinse, which runs for an average of 30 minutes, can use up to 5 gallons of water.
5. Be Prudent in the Bathroom
The average person takes about 10 minutes in the shower, with an estimated use of around 2.5 gallons per minute while using the standard showerhead. By reducing how much time each household member takes in the shower, you will realize significant water savings. Replacing your standard showerhead with a low-flow one will be a great plus for your water conservation efforts.
You can also save water by switching off the shower while soaping up, scrubbing, and washing your hair. Turning the shower back on only to rinse off will conserve water. Similarly, turning off the bathroom faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving will help you save water.
6. Prioritize a Drought-resistant Lawn, Shrubs, and Trees
Efficient landscaping doesn’t require much watering. When choosing grass, shrubs, and trees for your landscaping, go for drought-resistant options. These varieties, most of which are native, use less water but still thrive and add to your home’s curb appeal. This landscaping technique is known as xeriscaping, and you can engage a landscaping professional to help you select the best xeriscape plants for the Arizona region.
7. Know When to Water Your Yard
Only water your lawn when necessary. If your lawn stays flat when you step on it, that’s a good sign that it may be time for watering. On the other hand, if the lawn springs back up after stepping on it and moving, you can safely go for a while before you have to water the grass.
It’s also more efficient to water your lawn and trees either early in the morning or late in the evening. There is less water waste caused by evaporation during these times. You can also save water by avoiding watering your lawn when it is windy. The wind can not only speed up evaporation, but it will also cause your sprinklers to send water outside the intended area, wasting your irrigation efforts.
8. Add Mulch
In addition to the evaporation effect highlighted, watering your yard on bare soil can lead to water waste because of surface runoff. Adding a layer of mulch, which can be made of wood chippings, grass clippings, leaves, or softwood bark, will help the soil beneath to retain water for a longer time. This way, you will only reduce the frequency of watering your yard, allowing you to save gallons of water while ensuring that your yard continues to thrive.
Start Saving Water in Your Home Today
A water crisis is looming throughout the country. Adopting water conservation strategies will help you reduce water waste and save you money. Our expert plumbers at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical have more insights into practical ways for you to conserve water in your home. We are happy to answer your questions. Our team also performs maintenance visits, during which we can identify any problem areas causing water waste and any water-saving opportunities. Turn to us for a new energy-efficient water heater.
In addition to plumbing services, Goettl's High Desert Mechanical has been providing exceptional heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services to residents of Camp Verde, AZ, and the surrounding areas since 1987. Contact us today for exceptional plumbing services that will see you save more water.
