TenantTag

Everyone wants to lower their monthly expenses, and water usage is a good place to start. According to Flo Technologies, the top water users in an apartment are listed below. As a result, if a tenant is to lower their water bill, they must focus on these 6 Targets to Lower Their Water Bill When Renting.

• Toilet: 24%
• Shower: 20%
• Faucets: 19%
• Washing Machine: 17%
• Leaks: 14%
• Misc.: 6%

1. Toilet

• Adjust the fill level of the water in the tank. New toilets use 1.3 gal/flush while old ones use 4.5-5.5 gal/flush. If the fill level cannot be adjusted, a hack is to place a brick in the tank so less water is needed to fill the tank.
• Replace rubber flapper or flushing mechanism if water continuously runs after flushing. A flapper is very inexpensive and easy to install. If the flushing mechanism needs replacing, the landlord is generally responsible.

2. Shower

• Install low flow shower heads. Low flow shower heads can decrease water consumption by 40% or more.
• Practice Navy shower concept. While a bit extreme for some, the concept saves a lot of water. In general, the shower is on for getting wet and rinsing but off during the lathering stage.

3. Faucets

• Check faucet aerators. While aerators help provide evenly pressured water, they decrease water usage by adding a porous barrier that slows the flow of water during usage.
• Turn faucet off while brushing teeth and washing hands. Water is wasted during actual brushing and lathering.
• Repair dripping faucets. Obviously, leaks increase water usage and need to be repaired. Old bathroom and kitchen faucets that are leaking should be repaired/replaced by the landlord.

4. Washing Machine

• Wash full loads of laundry. A similar amount of water is used to wash small and large loads of laundry. As a result, less water is used by doing one large load of laundry versus two small ones.
• Use high-efficiency washing machine. High-efficiency washing machines use less water and can save a tenant money. Because these units are more expensive, this is a more realistic option if a tenant provides their own machine.

5. Leaking

• Notify landlord of any leaks. Obviously, leaks increase water usage and need to be repaired. In general, leak repair is the responsibility of the landlord.
• Track hidden leaks. If there are no obvious leaks but a water bill is abnormally high, then there may be a leak outside of the unit. In this case, the utility or plumber can offer assistance in finding the problem.

6. Misc.

• Run dishwashers with full load. Dishwashers can use up to 30 gal/load. As a result, it is more efficient to run them when full.
• Choose showers over baths. According to the 2016 Residential End Uses of Water Study, the average American shower uses approximately 15.8 gallons. On the other hand, bathtubs take up to 36 gallons to fill. As a result, save baths for special occasions.

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