Here’s a bit of nostalgia. Does anybody remember the string of water restrictions that were implemented in over a decade ago? This Warrandyte plumber certainly remembers!
It’s hard to forget the TV ads encouraging Victorians to cut down on water usage, or our reservoir volume printed on the front page of every morning paper, or our public fountains and water features running dry.
As citizens of a country made up mostly of desert, Australians are intimately familiar with the effects of drought and the need to save water. Whether that’s by installing water-saving water fixtures, limiting showers to the recommended 4 minutes, or washing the car with just a bucket of soapy water and sponge, saving water looms large on the minds of Aussies.
Thankfully, that time of drought is over and most of these restrictions have been lifted or eased. But with how dry our continent is, saving water is never a bad thing.
We’ve blogged before about some common ways you waste water in the home as well as strategies to save water. But today, we’re taking a slightly different angle: a Warrandyte plumber will uncover some of the hidden ways you use water around the house without even realising it.
1. Invisible leaks
A leaky tap is usually pretty easy to notice. After all, it’s hard to miss that distinctive drip drip drip sound. But unfortunately, not all leaks are this easy to pick up on.
You mightn’t be able to see invisible leaks, but they can have a dramatic impact on the amount of water you use. And since you can’t see them, it’s easy to not realise you’re suffering from an invisible leak until you’ve already wasted a significant amount of water – and possibly money!
Depending on your house, your pipes could run through the ceiling, walls, floor or even underground.
And just like the pipes under your sink, these pipes can wear down. Your pipes might have been poorly installed, O-rings and joints might come loose or plain old wear-and-tear can all eventually cause leaks.
So if you see your water bill suddenly spike up, you might be suffering from an invisible leak!
Of course, detecting and fixing an invisible leak is much harder than fixing a regular leak.
If there’s an invisible leak somewhere in your house, don’t wait – talk to a professional plumber in Warrandyte like H2-Pro today about finding it and getting it fixed!
2. Not using pool covers
With summer well underway already, many of us are rushing off to the local pool to cool off.
And for those of us fortunate enough to have our pools of our own, that means getting the backyard pool ready for the long, hot summer.
Every pool owner knows how important it is to invest in efficient pumps and to keep features like fountains, waterfalls and waterjets turned off unless absolutely necessary.
But without a doubt one of the most effective ways of saving water in your pool is using your pool covers properly! The humble pool cover might not look like much, but trust us when we say it can do a lot more than just keep leaves and dirt out of your pool when it’s not being used.
Pool covers save you water by reducing the amount of water that evaporates dramatically. The sun is formidable, and can rapidly dry up your pool. However, with a pool cover, evaporation is minimised so you won’t have to waste water refilling the pool to keep up with evaporation.
If you’re a pool owner, we encourage you to invest in a good quality cover that can be used throughout the months of the year you may not use your pool.
3. Watering on sunny or windy days
Even with all of the focus on saving water, the fact remains that plants still need to be watered… especially during the height of summer if you want to stop your plants from withering!
Watering your plants more frequently in summer is a necessary evil. That said, there are still a handful of things you can do to cut your water usage while doing so.
One thing that can reduce the amount of water you use watering is timing your watering. If possible, we recommend leaving watering for the afternoon when the sunlight is weaker, and avoiding watering on windy days.
Again, it all comes back to evaporation. Harsh, direct sunlight and wind can cause the water to evaporate or blow away before it has time to truly soak into the soil and reach the roots of your plants.
Waiting until the sun is weaker and avoiding windier days can reduce the amount of water you need to use to keep your plants alive. So for the green thumbs out there, take note!
Need help saving water? Call H2-Pro today!
The struggle to save water can be an uphill battle. After all, we use so much water both directly and indirectly… just where are you meant to start?
Fortunately, there are plenty of little things you can get to start saving water. And you can start by fighting some of the hidden ways you use water around the house!
These are only some of the small, hidden ways that you waste water around the home.
While we can never reach the point where we use no water at all, it is possible to make small changes to our habits that make a big difference to the environment – and your wallet!
If you need advice on the state of your home’s plumbing system – and whether it’s unknowingly causing you to waste water – give H2-Pro a call on (03) 9844 1444!
Working in local suburbs helps us provide rapid, 24-hour emergency plumbing support – so find out if we service your area here. Got a question? Please contact us anytime!
