Wasting Money and Water Can Be a Pain in the Drain!
A glass of water in a restaurant may come for free, but water use in your home comes at a price. Taking a few small steps to conserve water can help you save big. The Department of Energy offers several recommendations:
Fix Leaks – The sound of dripping is annoying and expensive, with one drip per second typically costing $1 per month. Repair leaks in fixtures and pipes.
Install Low-Flow Fixtures – Quality, low-flow fixtures can be quite inexpensive, while achieving water savings of 25%- 60%.
Wash Clothes Efficiently – Use either cold or warm water, and always use cold water for rinsing. In the case of aging appliances, an old washer can cost three times as much to operate as an energy-efficient one. When selecting a new machine, look for one that allows you to adjust the water temperature and levels for different loads. Keep in mind that front-loading machines use less water than top loaders. Also, look for the ENERGY STAR label to ensure that your new clothes washer is energy efficient.
Lower Water Heater Thermostat – Reduce water heating costs by lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. Each 10ºF reduction in water temperature saves between 3%-5% in energy costs. Reducing water temperature to 120ºF also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in water heater and pipes.
Replace Water Heater – The average life span of a water heater is between 8 and 12 years. Energy use can be cut considerably by replacing with a newer, more efficient model. Plus, you could also avoid the mess and inconvenience of an untimely breakdown. Give us a call for an inspection of your systems. We can help you shave dollars off your utility bills every month.
