Indoor plumbing is one of the greatest inventions in human civilization. It has greatly improved the quality of life for modern families. It has also improved the cleanliness and sanitation of day-to-day life. But it has also led to an increase in water usage, and with that comes a responsibility to monitor water usage in Grand Rapids, MN.
Not only is this important to make sure we aren’t wasting water, but tracking water usage in Grand Rapids, MN is important to make sure our plumbing systems are in top shape. Here are some tips on how and why to monitor water usage in your home.
Catching leaks
Monitoring water usage is a good way to catch leaks in the plumbing system. If you see an increase in water usage over the previous month, and there isn’t an obvious reason like hosting guests or watering the lawn more than usual, it may be a sign that there is a leak in your plumbing system. While you may not immediately be able to tell where a leak is coming from, it’s important to call a plumber to come check your system and identify and fix any issues before they become a major problem.
Identifying upgrades
Another reason why it is important to track water usage is to find opportunities for water-saving appliance upgrades. Water-saving technologies are becoming standard on appliances that use water these days, and if you have an older model appliance like a washing machine or dishwasher it may make sense to track your water usage and see how much of a difference new appliances can make. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a WaterSense calculator that can help estimate the water savings for new fixtures.
Saving water
The most important reason to monitor water usage in your home is to conserve water. The average person in the U.S. uses 88 gallons of water per day, according to the EPA. That means a four-person household will use 352 gallons of water per day, which equates to about 10,560 gallons in a month. One way to track water usage is to compare this average with your actual water usage. If you find that your household is using significantly more than average, it may be a good idea to evaluate just where all that water is going.
Saving money
Of course, with saving water you will also be saving money on your water bill. It’s almost a certainty that water rates are not going to get any lower in the coming years; in fact, they will almost certainly increase at some point. Tracking your water usage can be a good way to keep costs down by instilling water-saving habits in the household.
If you find something concerning when tracking your water usage in Grand Rapids, MN, reach out to Rapids Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today. Thanks to our more than three decades in business, you can trust us to get to the root of any plumbing problem and fix it right away.