Money Expert

    Whatta Concept!


    Particularly as we head into warm weather months, keep a close eye on household water use.  You can save a noticeable amount of money and conserve resources by taking a series of small steps.  Here are some examples.

    First, do a quick walk through your home and fix leaking faucets.  A typical slow leak wastes over 3 gallons a day.  It’s a good idea to keep bath water levels as low as practical and showers as short as possible.  If you must keep the shower running between lathering and rinsing, buy a low flow shower head to reduce consumption.  If you must take a long shower, lower your water heater’s thermostat to save energy.  A setting between low and medium on most units (approximately 120°F) is sufficient for most households and every 10° reduction saves between 3-5% on water heating costs.  If you must take a long, hot shower, keep a bucket in the shower and use the water you collect to water your plants.  By turning off water while brushing your teeth you can save up to 8 gallons of water a day.  In the kitchen, if you must rinse off dishes before loading the dishwasher, fill up a sink with water instead of running water while you rinse each item.  Finally, when it comes time to run the dishwasher and clothes washer, do a full load.  And remember, clothes can be effectively done in cold water in most cases.