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Check your water meter during a period of time when no water
is being used. Make a note of the meter reading and check
it eight to 10 hours later. If the meter has moved, there
is an indication that you may have an undetected water leak,
which should be corrected.
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Don't pour liquid grease down the drain. Before washing
pots and pans, wipe out congealed grease with a paper towel.
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Once a week run hot water down the drain to help keep it
free-flowing.
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Tubs and showers should be fitted with a strainer that catches
hair and soap chips. Clean the strainer regularly.
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Don't use excessive amounts of detergents, bleach or chemicals
that may kill the natural bacteria in your septic system.
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Use biodegradable soaps and detergents.
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Periodically, drain water from the bottom of your water
heater to remove sediment, which extends the life of your
water heater.
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Foul odors occur from a build up of
food
debris inside your garbage disposer. To eliminate these odors,
place ice cubes and lemon peels in the disposer and run for
about 30 seconds, then rinse with cold water.
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To prevent excessive watering of your lawn in the summertime,
purchase an inexpensive spring-loaded timer which attaches
directly to your outside faucet. This will prevent overwatering
in case you forget to shut off the sprinkler.
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Water pressure in your home above 60 pounds per square inch
is harmful to your plumbing system and will cause excessive
water usage. Contact your local water authority to find out
what the water pressure is on your street. If it exceeds 60
pounds, consider installing a pressure reducing valve that
will limit the water pressure within your home.
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To prevent sewer gases from backing up into your home through
your basement floor drain, periodically pour a bucket of water
down the drain to keep the trap seal full.
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To remove unsightly mineral deposits on your shower head,
put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag and place it over
the shower head. Hold it in place with a twist tie and let
stand overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and the mineral
deposits should come off by wiping with a damp cloth.
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Repair leaky faucets quickly to avoid further damage to the
fixtures and faucets.
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When replacing plumbing fixtures, consider the long term
savings by purchasing a high efficiency water heater, or a
low water consumption fixture.
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Stop annoying water hammer noises by installing shock absorbers
that absorb vibrations in water lines.
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Toilets consume more than 40% of your total water usage.
Installation of a new toilet flapper and fill valve will keep
your toilet running efficiently.
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Put 12 drops of green food coloring into your toilet tank
to test for silent leaks. If the dye appears in the bowl,
you may need to change the ball or flapper valve. The toilet
is leakfree if no dye appears within 15 minutes.
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Septic tanks should be inspected and pumped every three
to five years to help prevent costly replacement of the filter
field.
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Conserve energy by checking the temperature setting on your
water heater. It should not be above 120 degrees Fahrenheit
or medium setting on older models.
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It is extremely important to know the location of the main
water shut off valve in the house. Find it now so you're prepared
to shut it off fast if a pipe breaks or the water heater bursts.
If located in a locked closet or shed area, make sure a
key is readily available.
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Replacing an old shower head can save up to 7.5 gallons of
water per minute without sacrificing full spray action at
low or high water pressures.
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Don't put up with any slowly dripping faucets. A slow drip
can waste as much as 150 gallons of water each day, or 4,500
gallons per month and will add to the water bill.
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If your drainfield appears flooded with water on the surface
of the ground or you have extremely green lawn in a particular
area, check for dripping faucets or leaky toilets before agreeing
to costly repairs. Often a minor adjustment will fix your
problem.
