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Water saving tips for homeowners

30th January 2012 Print

Spiralling living costs mean many family budgets are now feeling the squeeze, so to help homeowners, Charlie Mullins, managing director of Pimlico Plumbers, is offering his top tips for reducing household water bills.

“Whatever your situation, there are some quick and easy ways you can start to reduce your expenditure on household water usage,” says Charlie. “The secret is to reduce any waste and to make the most of what you have.”

He added: “A good place to start is the bathroom, as around 20% of household water is used there. Simple things like making sure you’re not leaving the tap running while you’re brushing your teeth will help. And don’t forget your garden, consider how you may collect and use rainwater, such as by installing a water butt, in preparation for use in the warmer months.”

According to Moneysavingexpert.com, the average un-metered bill for 2011/2012 in England and Wales will be £379, and the average metered bill £325, with some variation between different regions.

Charlie’s top tips:

1. Install a water efficient shower head. This will help you save on water and energy bills, due to the need to heat less water

2. Reduce your showering time - every minute you cut from your shower time can save up to nine litres of water

3. Install a thermostatically controlled shower valve which will save water by delivering the required temperature instantly

4. Check for dripping taps. Changing the washers can significantly cut your water bill by hundreds of litres a year, and in the case of hot taps save on energy bills too

5. Update your toilet cistern to a duel flush system - ten half flushes saves enough water for a five minute shower

6. Have your water meter checked to make sure you are only paying for the water you are using

7. Make sure your hot water thermostat isn't set too high. The higher the temperature of your hot water the more cold you will waste to cool it down to a safe, usable level

8. Check your property for overflowing toilets and water tanks

9. Have your house's plumbing checked for leaking underground pipes. You may be paying for thousands of litres of water that is just soaking away into the ground

10. Next time you buy any appliance that uses water, make sure you check the water efficiency rating - a washing machine rated AAA or higher can save 50 litres per load, and can also be used at a lower temperature to save on energy bills.

For more information, visit pimlicoplumbers.com.