Each summer, many homeowners experience a big jump in their water bill. Warmer temperatures, lawn maintenance and outdoor summer activities all contribute to the increase in water consumption. With the increased need for water, the typical American household uses two to four times more water during the summer season than it will during the remaining nine months of the year!
All of that extra water adds up quickly when it comes to your monthly water bill and can create a strain on resources, whether its your own property’s well or a municipal water supply reservoir.
Fortunately there are a number of ways that homeowners can cut down on their water consumption to help protect the environment and their wallets. Try putting a few of these tips to use and see if you notice a difference on your next bill!
Choose the right time to water your lawn! It’s estimated that nearly half of the water used in landscape maintenance is wasted due to evaporation, wind or runoff. Watering your lawn at the right time of day helps curb some of this waste. The best time to water your lawn is early in the morning while it’s still somewhat cool out to allow plants to soak water before evaporation can occur. Plants will also utilize the water more efficiently as they gain energy from the sun during the day.
- Don’t over-water! Most lawns generally need about one inch of water per week with perennial plants and shrubs requiring two inches. Even if it has been exceptionally warm, this doesn’t always mean watering is necessary. Pay attention to how your grass reacts when you take a few steps out onto your lawn. If the grass springs back into place, it doesn’t require any additional water. A rain gauge is an easy way to monitor if Mother Nature is keeping up on watering for you.
- Raise your mower blade during the summer! Most lawn mowers keep a mowing height of 2.5 to 3 inches, which is ideal for lawn maintenance during the spring and autumn. However, grass should be allowed to grow another half inch for a lawn height of between 3 and 3.5 inches during the summer. This creates deeper root growth and a more drought resistant lawn. The longer blades of grass will also hold in more moisture and reduce water evaporation.
- Make the most of your mulch! Mulch is an excellent way to keep the base of plants and shrubs cool as well as lock in some much needed moisture. However, a bit of maintenance is required to ensure that your mulch is doing the job it’s supposed to. Often times a crust can form on the top layer of mulch from all the summer heat and sunlight. This can prevent water from penetrating the soil and minimize the effectiveness of your mulch. Simply break up the top layer of mulch from time to time to allow moisture to penetrate into the ground.
- Eliminate leaks! Check around your home to see if there is any type of leak, no matter now small, coming from a pipe, hose, faucet or any type of coupling in the piping of your home. Small drips can add up quickly. Even a seemingly harmless drip from a worn faucet washer can waste up to 20 gallons a week! Take a look around your house, especially at your outdoor hoses, and try to fix any place that you see dripping or leaking water.
Want to continue conserving water in other ways? Pearson offers the best energy saving and water conserving fixtures and faucets that will save you a fortune, even when summer is gone. Call today for a free estimate.
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