Water Saving Plumbing Solutions for Your Home this Summer
Summer is upon us once more. It’s a great time of year, but it’s also a time of year when people often use more water. Wasting water increases your water bills and is also harmful to the environment.
This article offers practical water saving plumbing solutions to save water during the hot summer months. We cover tips like fixing leaks, installing water-efficient fixtures, saving water outdoors, and the benefits of regular plumbing maintenance.
The importance of fixing leaks before summer hits
There are numerous places in the home where water leaks occur, such as dripping taps, broken seals, leaking showers, a hole in a water pipe and more. If you don’t fix these water leaks before the hot months of summer arrive, not only will you increase your water bills, but other issues may result.
Aside from wasted water, one of the greatest problems that results from a water leak is that of water damage. For example, if a pipe or fitting is leaking beneath the bathroom basin, it will damage the structure, causing warping, the flaking of particle board, and leaving an unsightly mess. Water leaks in any room in the home will also damage carpets and other furniture items. This all means costly repairs and replacement of anything affected. Water leaks cause poor air quality due to damp odours permeating the house.
How to detect water leaks
Check all wet areas inside the home, such as the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and the hot water system. Look for dripping taps, leaks under sinks, and leaking toilets. Also look for telltale signs of water damage on the ceiling, walls and even the floor. Is dampness or discolouration present?
If you do discover signs of a water leak but can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from, give us a call and we’ll locate the leak and repair it.
Install water-efficient fixtures to beat the summer heat
The aim is to use any means necessary to reduce water consumption over summer. One way to achieve this is to install water-efficient fixtures in your home. People use excessive water in hot weather to wash off the sweat and cool down, so having low-flow shower heads and water saving tap heads are a must.
You might think that water saving taps and low-flow shower heads result in insufficient water pressure to wash the dishes or have a satisfying shower, but they don’t. By design, these devices increase water pressure while using less water. Manufacturers achieve this by designing water-efficient taps and low-flow shower heads so that the water is more compressed when exiting, resulting in good water pressure.
Installing water saving devices in your home lowers your water consumption over summer, decreases your water bills, and also conserves resources during hot weather.
Outdoor water saving tips
Inside the home isn’t the only place you should strive to conserve water. The front and backyard are just as important. Let’s list some practical tips to save water outdoors during summer:
1. Check for leaking taps and signs of underground water leaks
2. Water the lawns and gardens in the early morning or early evening
3. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and don’t water the grass and gardens if there’s a chance of rain
4. Install a water tank to collect rainwater
5. If you have a swimming pool, cover it with a pool cover to reduce evaporation
6. Keep the lawn longer so it maintains moisture and needs less watering
7. Wash your car less often
Regular plumbing maintenance tips to save water and reduce summer bills
If you want to conserve water and save money over the summer months, then regular plumbing maintenance is a wise idea. Let’s look at how routine maintenance can help.
1. Clean and adjust taps and shower heads
Water contains minerals that build up over time, clogging taps and shower heads and impeding smooth water flow. Regular cleaning or the replacement of aerators and shower heads ensures water flows as it should.
2. Maintenance detects leaks early
Detecting leaks (or potential leaks) as early as possible can save you from costly repairs and wasted water. A slow drip might not look like much, but it can waste 100s of litres of water per month. Chris Lobb Plumbing can detect and fix leaks before they become a bigger issue.
3. Preventing major repairs
Plumbers perform preventative maintenance. This helps you avoid burst pipes, backups in the sewer system, and other plumbing issues. Fixing minor issues early avoids high water usage and the prospect of major plumbing repairs in the future.
4. Optimising water pressure
High water pressure is great, but it also leads to excessive water use, along with additional wear and tear on pipes and fittings. We can check your water pressure and install a regulator to reduce it if necessary. This saves water but still provides adequate pressure for all your household needs.
Contact Trusted Plumbers serving Sydney's Lower North Shore
Call Chris Lobb Plumbing for expert plumbing maintenance and water-saving solutions in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. With over three decades of experience, we provide top-quality, reliable plumbing services tailored to your local needs.