Conserving water is surprisingly easy — so long as you know where to start. It probably comes as no surprise that your bathroom uses the most water out of any room in your home, making it the perfect place to start watching your water consumption.
Whether you’re trying to save the planet one drop of water at a time or you’re just looking to lower your monthly water bill, these tips will help you to use less water in the shower.
Set a timer.
The easiest way to save water is to simply spend less time showering. But that’s often easier said than done. To keep yourself from daydreaming about what you’ll be having for dinner later or from performing your favorite songs to your shower curtain for 15 minutes, set a timer before you head into the shower. Most people find that 10 minutes is plenty of time to get squeaky clean.
Don’t brush your teeth in the shower.
We’re not entirely sure how this trend got started, but brushing your teeth in the shower really doesn’t save you much time in the morning. Furthermore, the extra minute or two you spend standing in the shower brushing your teeth actually wastes 10x more water than traditional brushing — sorry to burst your bubble if you’re avid shower brusher!
Use a low-flow showerhead.
Low-flow showerheads use far less water than traditional systems — and the best part is, you’d never notice it! Low-flow showerheads use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute, while traditional showerheads use about 5 gallons. Low-flow heads are a bit more expensive up front, but the money they save you in wasted water easily makes up the difference in just a few uses.
Reserve baths for special occasions.
The average shower uses around 25 gallons of water, while the average bath uses around 50. Essentially, someone who only takes baths could cut their water use in half by switching to exclusively showers.
Fix any leaks that may be lurking.
You may not even notice that one of the biggest water wasters in your bathroom doesn’t come from your showerhead or faucet, but the pipes leading to them. A leaky pipe can waste as much as 2,500 gallons of water per year. Even if you don’t suspect anything is wrong, every homeowner should schedule routine checkups of their bathroom's plumbing.
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