Spring 2011

Top 10 Ways to Save on Your Water Bill

These days, one of the easiest ways to cut down on energy consumption and save money (while helping the environment) is to reduce your water bill. Water is pricey and when we use a lot of it, we do the environment no favors. Luckily, saving water is relatively simple and doesn’t require the installation of any new systems around your home. The only thing you need to worry about is paying a little closer attention to how you use your water.

1. Install an Adjustable Toilet Flapper – The amount of water your toilet uses to flush is almost always too much. Unless you own a low flush toilet that uses 1.4 GPF or less, you’re using too much water. An adjustable flapper allows you to lower that volume slowly until you reach the minimum needed to work.
2. Check for Leaks with the Water Meter – Use your water meter to check for leaks by turning off all water using devices and checking to see if the meter increases. If so, you should call a plumber to pinpoint the leak and seal it up.
3. Install Low Flow Faucets and Shower Heads – Showers and sink faucets waste more water than almost anything else in your home. Reduce flow with aerators and low flow devices to save water.
4. Don’t Run Water for Bathroom Tasks – When you brush your teeth, comb your hair, wash your face, or shave, don’t leave the water running. Turn it off between uses or fill up the sink with water to use for rinsing.
5. Don’t Run Water for Dishes or Vegetables – Fill a clean pan with water to do dishes or wash vegetables. If you own a dish washer, get one with an energy star rating and minimize rinsing before using it.
6. Wash Full Loads of Clothes and Dishes – Only wash clothes and dishes when you have a full load ready to go. This will reduce waste by minimizing how much actually gets washed at any given time.
7. Limit Lawn Watering – Lawns don’t need much water to thrive, so turn off your timed sprinklers and reduce watering. Unless you’re in a drought, most lawns can survive for a couple days without watering, depending on the heat.
8. Wash Your Car with a Bucket Only – Don’t leave the hose running when using water outside. Fill a bucket for car washing and only turn the hose on when needed. A nozzle to control the flow of water can help here.
9. Check Fixtures for Leaks or Running Water – Your fixtures can easily leak or run water while not in use. Even a single leaky faucet can waste hundreds of dollars a year in water if not fixed.
10. Replace Low Efficiency Fixtures and Appliances – In old homes especially, old fixtures cost money. If it’s financially viable, replace old toilets, sinks, and other fixtures with new ones that are low flow and water efficient.

Saving money is only one of the many benefits to be had from cutting own on your water bill. Consider the number of ways you’ll help the environment as well. One thing is for certain – a smaller water bill is good for everyone.

Simple Reasons Not to Neglect AC Maintenance

Especially if you’ve just had a new air conditioning unit installed, it’s tempting to assume the system is working fine and leave it alone. After all, you just spent a good deal of money on that state of the art system. Why spend even more to have someone check for problems that likely don’t exist?

This line of reasoning seems to make sense. But the truth is that the better you are at keeping up with regular maintenance on your AC system, the more you’ll save in the long run on your energy bills and the longer your system will last.

What Goes into Good AC Maintenance?

The problem is that a lot of people don’t understand what actually goes into regular air conditioning maintenance. Sure, changing out air filters is an important part of it, but there’s actually a lot more involved in keeping an AC system functioning properly.

The cooling coil needs to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a year. Without this type of attention, the coil is sure to accumulate sediment and debris which in turn impedes its ability to cool the air that passes across it.

The dirtier your cooling coil is, the harder your air conditioner must work to keep your home cool. And if your air conditioner is working harder, it’s using more energy and costing you more each month on your cooling bill.

But really the increased monthly cooling costs will be the least of your concerns if you don’t get your AC unit the proper care it needs each year. That’s because regular maintenance also allows a technician to thoroughly inspect your system for any damaged parts, leaks or cracks that could put more strain on the unit or cause it to break down entirely in the near future.

This type of preventative work is the best way to ensure that you won’t have to call for emergency repairs. Problems can often be caught early, even before they start to show symptoms. And even if repairs are required, they’ll be much less expensive than if the problem was allowed to develop further and affect other parts of your home comfort system.

Since an AC system is so expensive to purchase and have installed, you want to make sure it lasts for a good long time. Regular maintenance visits are the best way to ensure that your system continues to work well for its expected lifespan and potentially longer. After all, the longer your system lasts, the less you will have paid each year, and that cost savings will more than pay for the yearly maintenance visits.