You could be, if your home is not running as efficiently as it could, or if you have undiagnosed leaks or damage. Cutting your water consumption can help you save money every month, and most times, you won’t have to change your habits at all. Try one or more of the following ideas for an immediate reduction in your water bill every month:
A running toilet, a slow drip from a faucet, or even a leaky fridge can cost you money every month, but provides no benefit at all. Sometimes, that leak will get even more expensive over time, as standing water can damage your floors and allow mold and mildew to develop. Take a walk through your home and check these areas for leaks — any problem you find and repair will reduce the water your home wastes each month and will prevent mold growth or damage, too:
Listen for leaks: Turn off anything that makes noise and visit the kitchen, bathroom and any room with a faucet. What do you hear? Ideally, you won’t hear anything — if you hear drips or running water, your home is wasting water. A single running toilet can boost your water bill by hundreds of dollars each year, so pay special attention to bathrooms.
Look for water damage: Appliances that have water or stains underneath could be leaking. The most common culprit is a fridge that has an icemaker and water dispenser. If you see or feel water, double check the lines to ensure there are no leaks. Check under sinks for moisture and note any problems.
Head outside: Your outside faucets should be tightly closed, and the ground below them should be totally dry. If there are drips or moisture, you are paying for a steady stream of water you are not using. You should also walk by your sprinkler heads and make sure the ground is not soggy; this could mean you have a costly leak in your sprinkler system.
Using less water when you flush, shower or wash dishes can help you save money every day. Simply switching your shower heads takes just moments and can cut your water consumption without making a difference in your shower. Converting your toilets to low flow models or even adding some weight to the tanks can help reduce the amount of water used by each flush, according to NerdWallet.
Your laundry and dish washing schedules will have a tremendous impact on your water bill. Reducing the amount of laundry you do (by decluttering and only keeping essentials you love) can help lower your energy costs and your water consumption. Hand washing small loads of dishes or rinsing and waiting for the dishwasher to be full before running allows you to use this power and water consuming appliance fewer times each week.
Monitoring your home for leaks and running water, converting some areas to more conservative models and changing your own habits can have a significant impact on your water bill. Do all three and you’ll save hundreds of dollars each year — and run a more eco-friendly home, too.
