In order not to overpay for water: opportunities for reasonable savings

Monthly utility bills are a reason for additional frustration! Such the impression that the amounts in them are constantly growing! Do you want, do not want, you have to think about how and on what to save. Remember the stories about how Europeans save? Now we’ll not laugh at them, because it’s just right to learn from them!

Let's start with the water. Let's learn to spend it economically. To do this, you have to check the condition of home plumbing.

How plumbing relates to water consumption

The fact that so much water flows out of a digging tap in a year that it’s enough for a couple of elephants to bathe is understood even by infants.

Plumbing condition and water meter readings

Practice shows that even good looking plumbing does not always hold water well. Therefore, it will not hurt to check its condition once again.

Toilet

Advice! Check if the tank is leaking, you can use the colored deodorizing tablets for the drain tank.

If after some time, when you didn’t drain the water, traces of paint will appear in the toilet, which means that the stop valves do not fully perform their function.

Crane

Occasionally, a digging tap in the kitchen only at first glance does not cause concern.

Important! Economists have calculated: over a year, drops from a leaking tap are collected in a couple of tens of cubic meters. That is, the owners of the dripping tap pay an additional monthly rate.

Counter

Even in a kitchen and a bathroom equipped with technical innovations, it is the water meter that disciplines us the most. But he causes a lot of complaints.

Ideally, counters should “spin” only with open cranes. If the meter continues to work after stopping the water intake, it is time to call in specialists.

Reference! The installation of the meter pays off within a few months. The current water consumption standards for apartments without installed metering devices exceed the actual consumption by at least 2 times.

If when checking the condition of the plumbing you are convinced that there is a need to replace any elements or the entire system, you need to buy not what you liked visually, but what will be beneficial in use.

Plumbing that helps save

The plumbing market allows everyone to choose devices that are suitable for price and consumer characteristics:

• Toilets with combined flushhaving two buttons on the tank: for maximum and for economical drainage of water.

• Lever mixers for kitchen and bathroom. They more reliably block the water, require less time to adjust the temperature.

• Motion Sensors. As soon as the object is out of the range of the infrared sensor integrated in the mixer, the water supply immediately stops.

• Aerator nozzle for tap reducing water consumptionabout three times. Although the pressure remains the same.

Reference! The “fantastic” aerator effect is achieved by mixing water with air.

• One-Click Water Switches. They are made in the form of nozzles on the tap, limiting the time of the flow of water. Something like a rustic washstand, but they cost several times more.

How to use water economically

It is foolish to think that only the installation of new plumbing is enough to save. It is important that we take care of the water ourselves, use only the amount that is really needed.

In the kitchen

Think about why leaving the tap open while when the table surface is wiped. The volume of water flowing over this short period of time was enough for our ancestors, who used the wells, to wash dishes once!

Reference! In 1 minute, approximately 10 liters flow from an open tap. Should I pay these costs?

Certainly very economical washing dishes in a fully loaded dishwasher. And without her? Everything is not so joyful here: a bucket goes to wash one dish under running water! But I don’t feel like washing in the old way in the basin.

Advice! The optimal solution is a sink with two bowls for washing and rinsing. In a duet with an aerator, the savings are even more tangible.

In addition to cleaning and washing dishes, there are other needs related to water consumption: washing vegetables, thawing meat, cooking and drinks.

Practical housewives do this: they wash the vegetables in a bowl, and meat products are thawed at natural temperature.

In the bathroom

There are even more options for economical water consumption. We use the most uncomfortable methods during the cold water shutdown period: washing in a basin and brushing your teeth with one glass of “precious” liquid. In some European countries, daily hygiene procedures look almost the same, differing only in the presence of a cork for the sink.

Another way - block the tap when brushing your teeth.

Reference! This manipulation alone saves approximately 30 liters of water. In terms of a two-time procedure for a month - this is 1800 liters! For a family of 4 people - this is 7200 liters per month.

No less effective in reducing costs refusal of a bath in favor of a shower. The benefit is at least 30 liters. Reduces consumption even further. a water-saving shower head or a watering can with small holes.

Also reduce hot water consumption electric water heaters. And you can turn them on at night, when electricity tariffs are not so high.

A logical question: why a water heater in an apartment with hot water? It turns out that its acquisition is profitable and justified.

Important! Even taking into account the cost of electricity, hot water from a water heater is cheaper. And in the hot water shutdown season, there are no inconveniences and limitations.

You don’t even have to talk about the toilet. Combined drain 2 times more economical than usual. By the way, the so-called “smart” toilet, contrary to popular belief, consumes about the same volume.

Important! A small discharge of 3-4 liters is a threshold value, less than which it is impossible to comply with sanitary standards.

Is it worth it to use the folk method for saving - put a brick in the tank so that less water can fit, decide for yourself!

Why you should not illegally save

How to save is a matter of conscience for each resident. But there are several reasons why illegal saving is not the best way out of a situation with high water consumption.

First of all, bona fide payers suffer, since the fee for unaccounted resources is charged from all residents.

Secondly it a fraud that will be revealed sooner or later. In this case, the result of "savings" will be disastrous! Instead of a not encouraging, but feasible utility bill, you can get a significant fine, or even a real term of imprisonment.

Reference! According to the Code of Administrative Offenses, the fine for fraudulent schemes is from 10 to 15 thousand, and for a criminal - up to 2 years in prison.

About tariffs again: for illegally used resources you still have to pay! Only at current standards and prices for the entire period that has passed since the last meter verification. There are 30 days for repayment.

So it’s easier and safer to make adjustments to your own habits. In just a few weeks, they will turn into a lifestyle and will not cause tangible discomfort.