Recycling water at home used to be something very few people did on a regular basis.  But times change. Today, more homeowners than ever are finding ways to reuse water – whether it’s rain that’s gathered in barrels after a storm, or water that was just used for cooking. 

There are very good reasons to get into the habit of recycling water. First and foremost, it’s a great way to help preserve one of our planet’s most important resources that’s getting scarce. Consider this: we use about 88 gallons of water a day in the U.S. And a lot of that water gets wasted. 

Recycling water can also help you save money on your water bills. Every time you turn on the faucet, use the washing machine, or water the garden, you’re spending money. But if you use recycled water instead, you end up keeping more money in your pocketbook while also helping save the planet. It’s a win/win. 

The good news is that you don’t need fancy equipment get started. All you need are items you can buy at the local home improvement store and the willingness to think outside the box and try something new. 

Here are seven ways to recycle water at home:

Install a rain barrel

One of the easiest ways to capture and recycle water is with a rain barrel. These work by collecting rainwater from your home’s gutters. You can purchase rain barrels at your local home improvement store and install it yourself. 

Simply place the barrel near a downspout and attach the diverter so water funnels into the barrel. Then you can reuse the water in all kinds of ways – from watering the garden to washing the car. 

Invest in a gray water system

One of the most comprehensive ways to recycle water is to add a gray water system to your home. These work by taking what would otherwise be wastewater and recycling it so that it’s used for other purposes. While gray water is not safe to drink or use for cooking, it can be used for flushing toilets, washing clothes and watering plants. 

It is possible to install a gray water system on your own, however, if your house is older, or if you are looking for a comprehensive gray water system, it’s best to let a plumber do the job. While it may cost more to let a professional install the system, it’s great for ROI, and will add up to considerable savings when it comes to your water bill. 

Reuse shower water

Every time you take a shower, you’re using a lot of water and plenty of it gets wasted. We’re not suggesting you stop, or even limit, your showers. Instead, we have a much better solution: simply take a bucket into the shower with you to collect unused water. 

Then, use the water for your garden or houseplants. You might also be able to reuse bath water for the same purposes, unless you’ve used bath products with chemicals. That being said, a little soap in the water can act as a bug repellant in the flower garden. 

Don’t let your “warm up” water go down the drain

One big missed opportunity is not reusing the water you run in your shower, bath or sink as it heats up. This is another great time to use a bucket to collect and recycle water. Since this water is clean, you can use it for all sorts of things, from filling your pet’s water bowl to soaking dishes and silverware. 

Never leave a glass half full

Chances are, at the end of the day there are half filled glasses of water all over the house. Instead of collecting them and tossing the water down the drain, pour it in the dog’s water bowl, in planters or use it in the garden. Do the same with half-filled bottles of water, too. 

Aquarium owners, take note

Anyone who tends to an aquarium knows how much water it takes to keep it thriving so fish can live happily. If you have an aquarium that you clean on a regular basis, consider recycling the water rather than pouring it down the drain. Aquarium water is a great natural fertilizer, although you’ll want to steer clear of recycling it if it contains chemicals like algae killers. 

A word about pools

While pools are a fantastic addition to any home, they take a lot of water to fill, and a lot of that water gets wasted. This is especially obvious when the weather changes and it’s time to drain the pool, which amounts to thousands of gallons of old, dirty water being dumped. But did you know that pool water can be cleaned through reverse osmosis? With this method, the water can be reused so that it doesn’t end up in the ground, where it can cause even more pollution. 

Would you like to learn more about recycling water or installing a gray water system? Give us a call or contact  us for a quote. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service. We’re here to help Cincinnati homeowners with all their plumbing needs.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask questions.

It never fails: as soon as the weather heats up across the country, the water starts to dry up, too. Luckily, we usually don’t have to worry about this serious problem here in Cincinnati, but it’s still very important to do everything we can to conserve water here at home. 

Using less water isn’t just good for the planet, it’s also a great way to save a little money, and it can even help keep plumbing problems at bay. By monitoring your water usage on the regular, it will be easier to spot a potential issue once you see you’re using more water than usual. 

Below are eight ways to conserve water at home: 

1. Water lawns twice a week 

Doesn’t sound like enough, right? Fact is, though, watering your lawn just two times every week will lead to stronger, deeper roots. In turn, your yard will have healthier grass that’s more tolerant of the heat. Note, however, that we’re only talking about the grass. Flowers and shrubs will still need to follow a different watering routine to stay healthy. 

2. Use a nozzle 

Left unattended, a running garden hose can waste over 100 gallons of water in just minutes. Use a shutoff or pressure nozzle so you only use what you need when you’re watering the plants, cleaning the house, or washing the car.

3. Water when it’s cooler outside 

In the summertime, water will evaporate quickly in the warmer air. So, if you’re watering your yard and plants during the hottest part of the day you’re wasting water. Conserve water instead by watering before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. In fact, if you’ve never gardened at night, we highly recommend it! 

4. Wash when full 

Use this mantra for cleaning dishes and clothing. Dishwashers and washing machines use an incredible amount of water. That’s why it’s important to wait until they’re full to turn them on. It takes practice to get into the habit, but once you do, you’ll likely notice a reduction in your water usage and maybe even on your water bill! 

5. Check for leaks 

Take an hour or so and check your sinks, faucets and your ceilings and walls for any signs of a water leak. Another great way to tell if you have a leak is by turning off the water supply, checking the meter, and waiting a couple of hours until you read the meter again. If it’s moved, it’s time to call the plumber.

6. Take shorter showers

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you want to conserve water, you’ll need to take short showers. In fact, every minute you’re in the shower, you use between three and six gallons of water. As for baths? While they certainly can be relaxing after a long day, take them sparingly. 

7. Turn off the faucet 

Even though most of us let the faucet run while we’re shaving, brushing our teeth, or doing the dishes, we really shouldn’t. Soak dishes in a pan of soapy water and rinse them with running water quickly. And turn off the faucet while you’re doing routine tasks like brushing your teeth. 

8. Choose energy saving fixtures 

Use an aerator on your kitchen faucet to save about four gallons of water a day. And if your toilet is older, consider switching to a newer model that can save about five gallons of water every time it flushes. You could also install a water saving showerhead and faucets in the bathroom. 

Concerned you have a water leak or otherwise wasting water? Give the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter a call or  Contact us. We can inspect your home’s plumbing and make sure it’s working properly and efficiently! We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.

For most homeowners, the water bill doesn’t fluctuate much, unlike the gas and electric bill sometimes does, especially when the weather changes. So, when you open the water bill and discover you owe way more than you have previously, it’s cause for concern. 

When the water company raise rates, it usually results in a nominally higher bill. If the costs have skyrocketed, however, it usually means there’s a leak or another issue with your home’s plumbing. 

An expensive water bill is your cue to call a plumber. Not only can we find the issue and fix the plumbing problem so your water bill goes back to normal, but we can address the problem before it get worse and leads to a plumbing emergency.  

Have an unusually high water bill? Below are five plumbing problems that may be the culprit: 

A leaking faucet
It may surprise you, but a leak in just one faucet can cause your water bill to be much higher than normal. Consider this: a faucet that leaks just a small amount of water daily can amount to gallons of water wasted every month. So, when you see water around the base of your faucet or any leaks in your pipes below the faucet, it’s best to address and fix the problem quickly. 

A leaking toilet
Toilet problems are known to cause very high water bills. This is especially the case if the toilet runs constantly. If you hear any running or dripping sounds, your toilet flapper may not be working properly and that can lead to costly water bills. 

If you’re unsure if you have a bad flapper, we recommend putting a few drops of food coloring in the toilet. Then, check back in thirty minutes. If the water is still colored, it’s time to call the plumber. 

Hidden leaks
So, you’ve checked your faucets and toilets and everything seems to be working well. This could mean you have a leak that’s harder to detect. Quite possibly, the leak is in the plumbing in your walls, the basement, or in your home’s foundation. 

This is another time when calling a plumber is advisable.  We have the tools to find the source of the leak quickly and fix it before it gets worse. 

Broken meter
This is an easy fix, but not one a plumber can make! If you’re sure there aren’t any leaks anywhere in the home, and no other plumbing problem has been diagnosed, you’ll want to call the water department. 

Occasionally, a broken water meter is to blame for the big bill. If that’s the case, the water department can repair the meter and maybe even prorate any bills you’ve paid when your meter wasn’t working properly. 

Worried about an expensive water bill? Give the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter a call or Contact us. Our team of experienced plumbers can do a thorough inspection of your home’s plumbing and fix any issues, so you can stop pouring water down the drain.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.