Being a little more economical about our water usage is important because, although we’re not likely to run out entirely any time soon because of our temperate climate, generating clean water is a costly business. Maintaining the water levels in our reservoirs throughout the year is important for us, because we’re used to the convenience of a constant supply of water and effective plumbing, and it’s important to the wild inhabitants of the country because they need these habitats to survive. 

With the introduction of more and more water meters as standard, most people can benefit by using some simple water saving tips.

These may not all be relevant or practical for everyone but just picking a few to implement into your home could make all the difference to your conscience – and your household bills.

In reality, we’re all guilty of being a little ‘laid back’ about our water usage so now’s as good a time as any for some ‘Tareq’s Tips’ on saving water in your home, day to day.

For starters – top tips for saving water in your bathroom:

Installing a water saving shower head and ultra-low-flush-toilet means you’re instantly using significantly less water. Every minute spent in a power shower uses up to 17 litres of water and the average household flushes the loo 5000 times a year. A low-flush toilet uses only 4-6 litres of water each flush compared to 13 litres in an old style loo and if you can’t stretch to a new toilet, you could opt for a cheap and effective cistern bag.

Taking slightly shorter showers makes a huge difference too. 1 minute less can save up to 7 litres of water (and that saves the energy used to heat it too).

It sounds simple but switching the shower off whilst you’re lathering up or shaving your legs can make a difference, and not leaving the water running for ages before you get into the shower helps too. If your bathroom is freezing cold, or your hot water is unreliable and requires boosting then get in touch with us. You may benefit from a new bathroom radiator or an improved central heating system so you can save energy and reduce water waste.

Lots of people are still guilty of leaving the taps running whilst brushing teeth (this can waste 6 litres of water a minute), or using the toilet as a waste paper basket. It only takes 7 days to break a habit (apparently!) so just sticking up a temporary post-it in the bathroom to remind the family could quickly make the step-change.

When it comes to plumbing, leaky taps, pipes and toilets can be easily resolved and will mean you avoid damage and water wastage, so have a quick check around – or give the Roost Heating team a call if you have concerns.

In the kitchen – here are some simple things you could consider to save water:

Keeping a jug of cold water in the fridge means an end to running the tap to get the water nice and cold for a drink.

Using a washing up bowl rather than just the sink to wash veg, salad or dishes means you can put the left-over water on your plants rather than down the drain.

If you fill the dishwasher up efficiently every time, you use less water than you would washing up. A good excuse not to wash up – but make sure everyone in the family knows how to stack it full!

You don’t need to rinse dirty dishes before they go into the dishwasher  – just scrape off the debris before loading and make sure you clear the dishwasher filter regularly.

Maintaining the garden in the hot weather uses loads of water, but this can be minimised if you follow these water saving tips:

Water outdoor plants in the early morning or at the end of the day to stop water immediately evaporating in sunlight and heat. Water the soil so that the liquid goes straight to the roots, where it’s needed.

Mulching your plants with bark chippings or straw can help reduce evaporation and cut down on watering requirements.

Installing a water butt can save up to 5000 litres of water a year (and rainwater is better for your plants than tap water). Using a watering can rather than a hose may be more intensive but it cuts water use by at least 33% (and does wonders for your arm muscles).

At Roost Heating, we aim to work as sustainably as possible and provide the most efficient and environment-attuned heating systems that we possibly can.

We’re always full of bright ideas about how you can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your home heating and plumbing systems and if you’re interested in alternative energy solutions like solar panels, ground source heating or air source heating, we can design, install and maintain them for you.

As well as implementing water saving techniques into your every day life, using smart systems like the Nest Thermostat or Worcester Wave can significantly improve your sustainability credentials. These nifty devices can learn about your energy usage and heating requirements and optimise the running of your home systems so that you use less energy overall but can always come home to a cosy home and a hot shower. 

If you’d like to find out about more about improving the efficiency or sustainability of your home heating or plumbing, why not get in touch?