15 ways to cut your water bill this summer
We’re all feeling the cost-of-living squeeze this year. Here are 15 tips to help you save money by using less water.
From rising bills to summer hosepipe bans, water is a hot topic at present, with many people examining how much water they use, and how to reduce it. Switching to a water meter is a good way to get a handle on your water usage, and to bring your water bill down. If your water is metered, the following simple changes could save you hundreds of pounds a year.
- Check for leaks by turning all your taps off and checking your water meter. If it shows that water is still being used, it’s time to investigate the source of the leak.
- Gather rainwater in a water butt for watering your garden – not only will this save you money, it will also mean your plants stay watered during a hosepipe ban.
- Have a shower rather than a bath. A bath uses about twice the water of a shower, so this simple lifestyle change could add up to big savings.
- Switch off the shower when lathering your hair, then switch it back on to rinse the shampoo away.
- Only run your dishwasher when it’s full – and if you just have a small amount to wash up, do it by hand; this uses much less water, especially if you place a washing up bowl in your sink.
- Fill a large plastic bottle with water and place it in your toilet cistern. This will mean your toilet uses much less water on each flush. An alternative is to put a brick in your cistern.
- Flush less often. You’ve probably heard the saying “if it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.” Cutting the number of times you flush is a simple way to cut your water bill.
- Only boil the exact amount of water you need – so if you want one cup of tea, heat just one cup of water.
- Always put a full load in your washing machine – don’t waste a wash on just a few items.
- Use shorter washing cycles. Lengthier cycles generally use a lot more water.
- Keep a jug of water in the fridge. This will stop you running the tap until it’s cold during the summer.
- Turn the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth. There’s no need to let your money run down the plughole.
- Fix any leaky taps. If a tap constantly drips and dribbles, it’s wasting water. Get it fixed right away.
- Clean your car less often. It will still work perfectly with a bit of dirt on it, so consider saving the washes for special occasions.
- Recycle water that’s been left in drinks glasses or pet water bowls by using it to water your plants.
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