How to Efficiently Save Water in Your Bathroom

Water is a precious commodity for the survival of all living beings. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the resources that is most frequently wasted. If the world continues to use and misuse water at this alarming rate, it won’t be long until living being run out of fresh water to use.

Of the one percent of freshwater that’s accessible for use, about eight percent of that is used at home. Homeowners are also accountable for the massive water wastage yearly. As water user and homeowner, you can contribute to the cause of saving water in many ways. You can begin at the part of your home where water use is the highest—the bathroom. Here are ways to efficiently save water in your bathroom.

Install Low-Flow Aerators on Faucets

Regular faucet has a flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm). You can reduce that when you install a low-slow aerator on the faucet. An aerator lessens the water used by adding air into the flow, which helps reduce splashing, guides the water into a straight even stream, and increases the perceived water pressure.

Low-flow aerators can cost from $5 to $10, depending on the brand and the model. To install the low-flow aerator, your need pliers or wrench, the new aerator, and a cloth (optional).

Cover the old aerator with a cloth and using the pliers or wrench unscrew the old aerator. Turn on the tap to wash away dirt buildup. Brush the inside to make sure it’s thoroughly clean. Once you’re satisfied it’s clean, cap on the new aerator. Use the pliers or wrench to make it’s sealed on tight.

Don’t stop at your bathroom. Use low-flow aerators on the kitchen faucet and other taps in your house.

Go for a Low-Flow Showerhead

Your shower is one of the biggest water consumer in the entire house. Regular showers consume about 2.5 to 4 gpm so for every ten-minute shower you take, you use up about 25 to 40 gallons of water. Replace your old showerhead with a low-flow one and save up to 2 gallons of water every minute that you shower.

A low-flow showerhead can cost from $8 to $50, depending on the features it includes. You don’t need to hire a professional plumber to install a new showerhead. You only need the new low-flow showerhead, a wreck, and Teflon tape (also known as plumber’s tape).

Turn off the shower and wipe off water residue. Remove the old showerhead using the wrench, and be careful not to apply too much force. Once it’s removed, you can turn on the shower to wash away debris and buildup stuck inside the pipe. Clean the shower with a long narrow brush then wrap a few layers of Teflon tape around the pipe threads. Install the the new low-flow showerhead.

Replace Old Toilet

Your old toilet may be one of the culprits for your skyrocketing water consumption. Old toilets are inefficient and take up more water than they need. One flush can consume from 3.5 to 7 gallons of water.

Most people use the toilet at least seven times a day so that’s a maximum of 49 gallons of water used everyday, multiply that to the number of people living in one house. Imagine just how much water commercial buildings and big establishments are wasting by continuing to use old toilets.

Replace your old toilet with a low-flush model and cut down more than half the gallons of water used by old toilets. Consider installing a low-flow macerating toilet, which consumes only 1 to 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Not only does it save water and money, it also prevents clogging because of the macerating pump that breaks down solid and semi-solid materials that you flush down the toilet.

Fix Leaks Immediately

Every year Americans waste 900 million gallons of water due to leaks at home. Despite how minor the leak is, leaving it unfixed for a long time wastes water and money. Moreover, small leaks can have the potential to cause bigger ones so have spend more money not only on expensive plumbing repairs but also on a bigger-than-usual water bill.

Water leaks can also cause damage to your home. The moisture can rust metal parts, damage appliances, and leave unsightly watermarks on surfaces. Prevent unnecessary water damage caused by leaks by regularly monitoring water pipes, faucets, showerheads, and other water sources. Most of all, don’t wait until it’s too late; fix leaks immediately.

Take Action

Saving water doesn’t stop with changing the fixtures in your bathroom and other parts of your house. You have to adjust your habits, too.

As mentioned, your shower is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) contributor to high water consumption and bill. While a low-flow shower can help save water, it won’t be much unless you cut down on your shower time.

Soaking in the bathtub uses up even more water than long showers. It’s especially wasteful since you only use it once so limit your bath soaks to at least once a month. Don’t simply drain the water in your bath. Use it for cleaning other areas in your house.

When you brush your teeth or shave your face/body, turn off the tap or use a cup to control the your water use. More than anything else, your actions can do a lot in saving water.