Toilets: Facts and Tips:
-
Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use.
-
Older toilets use as much as 20 gallons of water per person, per day. Replacing an old toilet with a newer one can save an average household from about 8,000 to 22,000 gallons of water in a single year.
-
Installing an ultra low-flow toilet uses just 1.6 gallons per flush. (Older toilets use 3.5-7 gallons per flush.)
-
Approximately 20% of toilets leak. Check for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the dye shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, your toilet has a leak. Usually, replacing the flapper will solve toilet leaks inexpensively.
-
Placing one or two one-quart bottles filled with water in the tank of an older toilet can save you as much as 1,000 gallons of water per person, per year.
Showers and Faucets: Tips for Saving Water:
-
Leaks in your sink or bathtub faucets can usually be repaired easily and inexpensively by replacing the rubber O-ring or washer inside the valve.
-
Bathing ranks third highest for indoor water use and the second highest for home energy use. Take a quick shower rather than a bath and save about 20 gallons of water each time.
-
If a one-gallon bucket placed under the shower flow takes less than 20 seconds to fill, replace your showerhead with a low-flow one (less than 2.5 gallons/minute).
-
Turn off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth and you’ll save an average of 5 gallons per person, per day.
Check for leaks in your pipes by turning all water sources off and reading your water meter. Wait a half-hour or so and take another reading from the meter. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.
The Homeowners Handbook to Energy Efficiency contains simple, practical energy-efficiency ideas.