How Broomall, PA, Homeowners Can Help Conserve Water in Their Homes

9/14/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: For many homeowners, conserving water usage is a priority. However, even the most conscientious homeowner may not be able to prevent a water damage disaster. It is important to prequalify a water damage restoration specialist to provide services should water damage occur.

SERVPRO of Media, PA, understands the inconvenience, frustration, and stress homeowners experience when a water damage disaster occurs. These water conservation tips help prevent water damage while preserving one of the most precious resources on the face of the planet: Water. Along the way, these water conservation tips can also save money and time for Broomall, PA, homeowners, and businesses.

Clean water is a precious resource necessary for life. Clean drinking water is sometimes taken for granted until a stretch of dry weather brings fire safety warnings and water conservation alerts. Decades of public service announcements have encouraged people to stop washing half loads of laundry or to turn off the faucet while brushing one’s teeth, two simple practices that conserve a significant amount of water each year. Listed below are some other ways to avoid wasting hundreds of gallons of water a day!

1. Maximize the dishwasher.

Avoid washing dishes by hand in the sink. The arduous task wastes both time and water. While the dishwasher is cleaning dirty dishes, the family can be multi-tasking elsewhere. As much as 27 gallons of water go down the drain when washing dishes by hand; in contrast, an ENERGY STAR-rated dishwasher uses three gallons of water. Avoid pre-rinsing dishes. Simply scrape off the food scraps, load the dishes and soap, and turn on the dishwasher.

2. Have vehicles mechanically washed.

By relying upon the neighborhood automated car wash to keep the vehicle clean, a car owner can save up to 100 gallons of water. The modern carwash is very efficient and uses ten times less water than the DIY backyard enthusiast washing a personal vehicle.

3. Leak test the toilet.

Put a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. A change in the color of the water in the bowl indicates a leak, and a leaking toilet can waste up to 100 gallons of water per day. The remedy is a replacement rubber flapper or fill mechanism.

4. Shut off the shower for the shave and shampoo.

Shutting off the water while shaving or washing one’s hair can save up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Ten minutes for a shave or a shampoo can save 25 gallons of water per shower.

5. Go with the new high-efficiency appliances when replacing old appliances.

The local utility company may offer incentives and rebates on new water-saving faucets, showerheads, toilets, or washers. These appliances and fixtures will save the homeowner on water bills. If the appliance or fixture has an ENERGY STAR certification or a WaterSense label, expect to save money on both power and water bills.

6. Look for leaks on the inside and the outside of the home.

Conduct a monthly leak hunt looking for dripping faucets, hoses, showerheads, and sprinklers. A new washer will stop most faucet leaks. Something as simple as attaching an automatic shut-off nozzle on the end of the garden hose could save five to seven gallons of water per minute.

Water conservation is challenging. Even the most conscientious homeowner may not be able to prevent a water damage disaster. In the event of a water damage disaster, the homeowner needs to identify the source of the water intrusion, stop the flow, and begin the water damage restoration process. Delay increases the scope of the disaster, which leads to a longer and more expensive restoration process.

While a wide-scale water damage disaster is a worst-case scenario, homeowners can take steps to implement a best-case response, which is outlined as follows: The water intrusion is discovered. The homeowner is able to immediately stop the intrusion by shutting off water to the leak, either at a supply valve or at the main water valve to the home. While all this activity is taking place, the homeowner calls SERVPRO of Media, a damage restoration company that the homeowner had prequalified earlier in the year. Within minutes of the call, a crew is activated and on the scene in less than one hour. Upon arrival, the water removal process begins.

The key to the best-case response listed above is prequalification. One call in preparation for a property damage disaster means that the homeowner only has to make one call in the event of a water damage disaster. SERVPRO prioritizes rapid response times to prevent advanced water damage.

For more information about Broomall, PA, water damage restoration, contact the SERVPRO of Media office by phone at (610) 566-5720 or by email at office@SERVPROmedia.com