When was the last time you took a good look at your water bill and the amount of money you’re spending on water every month? With a little strategy, you may be able to find an opportunity to save money.
In this article, I’ll tell you how to save money on your water bill by sharing some tips from money expert Clark Howard and Team Clark.
3 Easy Ways To Save on Your Water Bill Right Now
Speaking about water efficiency in the home, Clark says when the first- and second-generation models of high-tech appliances came out, they weren’t so great, “but now it’s a new era, and these things do work and they will save you money.”
“These are things you can do that will make a difference and lower those water bills and it’s not going to reduce the quality of your life,” Clark says.
Here are some things you can do to save money on your water bill.
1. Adopt Efficient Bathroom Habits
Many of the things you do in the bathroom can waste a lot of water if you’re not aware. Here are some habits you can adopt that can make a difference:
- Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.
- Take shorter showers.
- Turn the water off while shaving.
Those are all small, simple tasks, but the less water you use, the more money you’ll keep in your pocket.
2. Go Low-Flow
You don’t have to buy expensive add-ons to lower your water bill. The DoE says that you can enjoy water savings of 25%-60% by purchasing low-flow fixtures.
Clark says that going with low-flow fixtures vastly improves the water efficiency in your home, cutting down on your usage and saving you a ton of money.
“The low-flow showerheads of today are much more sophisticated and do such a good job – not all of them, but generally – of reducing the bill.”
Showerheads
“We went through the low-flow era with showerheads that people just hated,” Clark says, “but now science and technology have really advanced. You can now have a showerhead that puts out a lot less water and at the same time you don’t feel like there’s no water coming out at you.
“We have one of those low-flow showerheads now and I don’t ever feel deprived at all. It saves an enormous amount of water,” Clark says.
Faucets
A factsheet from the DoE says modern faucets use 40% less water than pre-1995 faucets. Going with low-flow faucets is a great way to save money on your water bill.
Toilets
Clark says about 10-15 years ago, there used to be a lot of jokes about low-flow toilets and how they didn’t work very well.
“That’s not true anymore,” Clark says. “The new low-flow toilets that actually work use a combination of pressure and water like in the airplane lavatories to move your stuff along effectively. These actually work, although they can be a little noisy.”
“I had a low-flow toilet put into my house,” Clark says. He says he went from using 3.5 gallons per flush to 1.1 gallons per flush and notes that some toilets even have two buttons: one that delivers 1.1 gallons per flush and another for 1.6 gallons per flush.
3. Consider Upgrading Your Appliances
Clark doesn’t want you to run to the store or online to splurge on the latest tech-centric appliances just because your current ones are getting a bit long in the tooth. When the next natural cycle of buying comes around, that’s when you spring for some upgrades.
Washing Machines and Dishwashers
“For example, when your dishwasher or washing machine croaks, if it’s an old one that you’ve been nursing along, the new ones are much more efficient and they actually get your dishes clean and your clothes clean,” Clark says.
It’s no secret that some appliances are better than others. When it’s time for you to make a purchase, the brand is important but it shouldn’t be the determining factor. An appliance that is Energy Star-certified, meaning that it meets U.S. government efficiency standards, is the way to go. Along with using way less water, the item may also qualify for federal income tax credits and deductions, which will put even more money back into your pocket.
The DoE says, “Washing machines that meet Energy Star criteria use 30% less water and consume half as much energy as conventional washers.” On the other hand, washing machines without the Energy Star label can use up to 17 gallons more per load, the agency adds.
Read our guide on the best time and place to buy small kitchen appliances.
Final Thoughts
To cut down on your water bill, the first thing you can try to adopt is more efficient habits in the bathroom. When it comes to items you can buy, Clark wants you to go with:
- Low-flow fixtures for the showerheads, faucets and toilets in your home.
- Large appliances that are high in water efficiency and low in water usage.
So where can you find all this stuff?
For the latest deals, check out ClarkDeals.com, which has sales on appliances as well as home and kitchen items galore!
“I’m all about saving green but also being comfortable and so these are things you can do to reduce expenses in your life,” Clark says.
Want to save more? Read our guide on how to save on utilities.
