Is this the Year You Stop Wasting Water?

Here in Canada, we are extremely fortunate to have around 20% of the entire world’s fresh water. As the custodians of so much water, it’s important that we don’t become complacent in how we care for our environment. Having access to a fifth of the world’s fresh water arguably means we Canadians have the responsibility of ensuring this water remains useable for generations to come. If you agree, here are a few ideas to get you started.

High Efficiency Appliances.

Compared to doing chores by hand (like dishes), appliances typically use less water. Which is great news. Dishwashers and washing machines save Canadians hours of labour every day, so it’s ideal that taking advantage of these tools saves water. However, not all appliances are made equal. Top loading washing machines, for example, use significantly more water than front loaders. On average, they’ll demand twice as much water, and remember that you aren’t just wasting double the water, but you’re also paying for twice as much energy to heat that water.

Little Water Savers.

Along with more efficient appliances, you can complement your water efficiency strategy with small, low cost upgrades. If any of your taps are missing an aerator, that’s the first place to start. You should also switch out older shower heads for new high efficiency ones, and try to limit your showers to only 10 minutes.

Catching Hidden Leaks.

The worst waste of water are leaks! Whether you have a toilet that’s always running or an unknown leak elsewhere in the home, it’s a good idea to catch them early before you’ve let hundreds of dollars drip down the drain. To check whether your toilet is leaking, put a couple drops of red or green food colouring in the tank. If colour appears in the bowl after a few hours, then your toilet is leaking! To check the rest of your home, snap a photo of your water metre on your way out of the house, and compare it with your metre when you’ve returned. If the numbers have changed, you have a leak!

Make 2019 the year you start saving water — and money! Our Calgary plumbers are here to help homeowners across our city to stop leaks, replace toilets, or update appliances. Let us know what you need done, and we’ll make it happen! Call the friendly Calgary plumbers at Plumbing Paramedics today.