Key Points
- Watering plants at the wrong time or using a leaky sprinkler wastes water and money, so it’s smarter to water early or late and keep equipment in check.
- Skipping quick fixes like a dripping faucet or running toilet might seem harmless, but they quietly hike up your utility bills over time.
- Summer habits like long showers, hosing off everything, and overusing the garbage disposal can lead to major water waste and higher costs if left unchecked.
Warm summer days usher in new priorities, like keeping the home cool and the plants hydrated. However, you might not be aware that all those seasonal chores could be leading to wastefulness around your house, and costing you more money when it comes to utility bills.
So, what are the ways you’re wasting water and money in the summer? We asked plumbing experts about how to cut down on careless watering and spending.
Meet the Expert
- Kyle Poe is a journeyman Plumber at Quality Comfort Home Services.
- Dustin Smith is the owner of Smith’s Plumbing Services.
- Jason Steinberg is the service manager at Joe Cole Plumbing.
Watering Lawns and Gardens at the Wrong Time
During a heatwave, homeowners tend to water their lawns and gardens to keep the greenery hydrated. However, this can prove to be wasteful if people water for too long or during the wrong time of day. Watering during the hottest parts of the day can lead to the water evaporating instead of going to nourish your plants.
Kyle Poe, journeyman plumber at Quality Comfort Home Services, advises making sure your sprinkler systems are maintained.
“Try to water in the morning or evenings when humidity is lower,” Poe says.
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Ignoring Household Leaks
You might be putting off fixing that dripping faucet or sprinkler head until after vacation, but experts advise repairing it sooner to conserve the natural resource.
“Whether it’s inside the house or outside the house, they might not be 100% certain, but they know their water bill is slowly going up,” Jason Steinberg, the service manager at Joe Cole Plumbing, says, noting that most folks try to plug the leaks on their own, but should call a plumber to help.
Taking Long Showers
Spending an extended time in the shower or bath to cool off can waste both water and money, so you should resist the temptation. Depending on your water heater, these lengthy bathing times can drive up gas and electric bills, too.
Dustin Smith, the owner of Smith’s Plumbing Services, suggests investing in a low-flow showerhead to prevent this.
Using the Hose for Too Long
Summer is the season for using the hose whether it’s to rinse off the car and the driveway or fill up a backyard pool. But misusing the hose can lead to wasting a lot of water and make your water bill more expensive.
Poe recommends using an automatic shut-off on your hose when washing the car or doing power washing to save on water and money.
Ignoring a Running Toilet
If you’re traveling to a summer home or opting for a staycation, you might notice the toilet is running nonstop. It’s a major problem that wastes many gallons of water, and can increase water bills by more than you think, according to Steinberg.
Misusing Garbage Disposals
Summer means more cookouts are on the schedule, which leads to more time in the kitchen—and dumping food scraps down the garbage disposal. It’s important to remember that many things can clog the disposal, like egg shells, coffee grounds, and potato peels.
“This can clog the disposal and cause unnecessary water waste from repeated flushing and cleaning,” Poe says. “Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean the disposal got any stronger or picked up new skills.”
