Four Easy Tips for Saving Water this Summer

In winter, everyone worries about the gas bill. In summer, it’s the water bill that can skyrocket. Trying to keep the lawn alive, extra laundry as the kids spent more time outside, cool showers in the hot afternoon, and more can all take their toll. In an earlier blog, we already discussed big-water savers like making sure you only run full loads of laundry, making sure clothing is dirty before tossing it in the machine, and watering the lawn in the evening or morning. But the little water-saving habits add up too. Here are several easy tips your family can keep in mind to save water over the warm months.

Keep Cold Water in the Fridge.

We’ve all turned on a tap and held our finger beneath the rushing water until it was cold. Most of us prefer to drink cold water, but it’s wasteful to wait for the temperature we like. Instead, keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge, or fill up ice cube trays. That way your family can enjoy cool water without wasting any. When you’re in the kitchen to grab a drink, keep an eye on the tap too. If it’s dripping, have a Calgary plumber fix it to save you water and money.

BYOB — Bring Your Own Bottle.

When it comes to buying bottled water, a lot more water goes into manufacturing the bottles than is held inside one. Try to plan ahead, so you can always pack your own bottle rather than buying one on the go.

Thaw Foods in the Fridge.

This is another tip that requires a little planning ahead. It can be tempting to speed up the thawing process by soaking frozen foods in a sink of warm water. But by taking food out early enough, you can thaw it in the fridge instead. It’s probably also better to thaw foods — especially meat — in the fridge just from a food safety perspective. When the ambient air temperature is in the high twenties or low thirties, bacteria can grow very quickly.

Recycle Water.

No one is suggesting you keep your dirty dish water, but plenty of water ends up down the sink that’s still perfectly good. If you boiled veggies, give the remaining water to house plants. They’ll love the extra nutrients. If you have a teen who chronically leaves half-finished cups of water, dump the remains in the dog dish instead of down the sink.

Our friendly plumbers are here to help Calgarians save money. These tips can help to curb water-waste, but don’t forget to look for larger problems like a dripping faucet or a toilet that is constantly running. If you find any issues, give the Calgary plumbers at the Plumbing Paramedics a call! We’ll be right over to help.