Saving Kitchen Water: Tips for a Better Home
Saving Kitchen Water
No room in a typical house uses as much water as the kitchen. One might think that with showers and baths, the bathroom might be the most water consuming, but they would be wrong. The frequent use that a normal kitchen experiences makes water usage skyrocket. A sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, and any additional appliances make the kitchen an area that homeowners rack up high water bills in. Thankfully, there are ways to curb overuse. By staying disciplined and smart, any homeowner can save large amounts of water without making major sacrifices.
Recycling water is a major way to prevent waste, and it’s easier than you think. Drinking water straight from the tap can be fun and quick, but most of the water goes straight down the drain. Drinking water should be collected in a bottle or filter and stored in your fridge to cool. Using a Brita filter is a great way to have filtered water on hand and lessen waste. A second method of recycling and saving kitchen water can occur when you’re waiting for water to heat up. There is usually a delay when turning on a faucet for the water to reach its maximum temperature (Pro tip: by turning your home’s water temperature down, you can decrease this wait, and your monthly bills). While you wait, collect the cold/lukewarm water before it heats and use this to water plants, drink, cook with, etc. Don’t let it run down the drain!
(Another quirky, non-kitchen related use of recycling water can be taking “old” water from fish tanks and using it to water plants, just a tip!)
Let’s talk about appliances. Saving kitchen water can be easy if you know how to use your kitchen appliances efficiently. It begins with the sink. When washing dishes by hand, plug your sink to collect water for rinsing, this way you don’t need to have the faucet running at all times (with a double sink, use one to rinse, and the other to tack sudsy dishes). Using less dish soap or detergent is also a great way to making rinsing dishes easier, and less water consuming. If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, use a compost bin or a worm farm to naturally get rid of organic waste. Garbage disposals can often use several gallons a day, much to many people’s surprise. Dishwashers are one of the biggest water wasters in a kitchen, and should only be run when completely full. Never put a few dishes in a dishwasher and run it: always use it to its full potential. If you are considering purchasing a dishwasher, make sure it has a WELS label! This will guarantee it has been approved as having a high water rating.
These might only be a few tips that you can practically implement into your kitchen routines, but can save you significant money in the long run, and are environmentally friendly. As a San Diego company, Remodel Works is dedicated to saving kitchen water in its projects all around San Diego.
