Water saving tips

EASE YOUR TAP FLOW

Flow control aerators for taps cost between $10 and $30 and can halve the volume of water you use while still giving good pressure. They’re great for taps over sinks or tubs that aren’t regularly filled up, so the water flow volume is less important.

FIX DRIPPING HOT TAPS

These can waste around to 7 litres of water every day, and potentially around $40 of energy each year. Replace the washer or fitting – a new washer only costs a few dollars.

CHOOSE EFFICIENT WATER PRODUCTS

Water efficiency labels appear on showers, taps, toilets, dishwashers and washing machines. Like energy rating labels, they use a star rating to show how water-efficient a product is compared to other products in the same class – the more stars, the more efficiently it uses water.

WRAP YOUR HOT WATER CYLINDER AND HOT WATER PIPE

Pre-2002 electric hot water cylinders probably aren’t insulated effectively, If your hot water cylinder doesn’t have a ‘Grade A’ label, wrap it with a cylinder blanket You should also insulate the first 1-1.5 m of hot water pipe coming off your hot water cylinder. Wraps cost around $80 and pipe insulation is about $10 a metre from hardware stores. For an older (pre-1987) cylinder and pipes, you could save up to $85 a year. Note that you can’t put a cylinder wrap on a gas hot water system.

CHECK YOUR HOT WATER TEMPERATURE 

Most problems with cylinders are the thermostats and can be out by + or – 15°C. It should be 60°C at the cylinder (to prevent the growth of legionella bacteria) and no more than 55°C at the tap so you don’t get burnt (children are particularly vulnerable). Depending on your cylinder, you may need an electrician or plumber to adjust your thermostat. Even an extra 10°C on the thermostat of your hot water system could be costing you $30 a year.

MAINTAIN YOUR HOT WATER SYSTEM REGULARLY

This includes gently moving the easing lever of the temperature/pressure relief valve every six months, to prevent it from sticking. Glass-lined water cylinders should have their anode changed every 5 years, more frequently in hard water areas. A plumber can help if you’re unsure. Depending on the type of system you have, you may need to do other forms of maintenance – check your manufacturer’s instructions.

• Wash your clothes in cold water – at four loads a week, this could save you around $55 – $80 each year.

• Fill the sink – rather than leaving the hot water running when doing things like shaving.

• Shower rather than bath – it typically uses only half as much water and energy.

• Skip the hour long shower – in a household of three, each minute you add to your shower time is about $90 a year.

• Rinse dishes with cold – rather than hot water.

• Run the dishwasher when it is fully loaded – and on an ‘eco’, ‘half load’ or ‘fast’ wash setting if available.

• Fill the kettle or jug from the cold tap and only heat the amount needed