The outbreak of coronavirus throughout the world has changed the way we live and created the need for a new normal. 
Until COVID-19 is entirely under control — most likely when a vaccine is introduced — we’ll likely be following social distancing measures. One of the most annoying consequences of spending more time within the home is the increase in energy bills. You’ll be using utilities more than usual and therefore spending more money while potentially earning less.
In some cases, you may require assistance from a plumbing service like Bert Norman’s Plumbing to help make your home as energy-efficient as possible. If you’re in Jacksonville, FL, call us today at 904-686-8611.
1. Turn Off the Faucet When Washing Hands
It’s one of those things that most people are aware that they should do, but rarely remember to. As far as energy saving, most people aren’t washing their hands correctly. If you’re following the guidelines from the CDC to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, well done! It’s helping to slow the spread of the virus, taking some strain off the health service and saving lives. However, always remember that water is a precious resource.
When washing your hands, the water should only flow twice. Once at the beginning, to build up the lather, and once at the end to rinse. If you wash your hands eight to 10 times per day, you alone could be wasting up to six gallons of water every day. And remember, that’s six gallons for each member of your household! You’ll instantly notice a significant reduction in your energy bills if you make this simple change — and you don’t even need to call in the help of a service!
2. Unplug Electronics When You’re Not Using Them
Most electronic devices use electricity even when they’re not switched on, especially if they have a standby feature. Chargers, stereos, TVs, computers and consoles are trickling your money down the drain every time you leave them plugged into the outlet. You might think it’s such a small amount that it doesn’t matter, but over time and across the extensive range of devices we all have now, it seriously adds up.
Always check around the house for things that are plugged in but not in use — from computers to lamps, there are probably more savings to be made that you realized!
3. Never Boil More Water Than You Need
It’s another one that seems obvious but sees loads of water, and therefore money, go down the drain every day. Each time you fill the kettle for a coffee or tea, make sure you’re only boiling what you need. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself with a pot full of limescale and sky-high energy bills.
4. Only Wash a Full Load of Dirty Clothes
You can cut water consumption significantly by only using the washing machine when you can make sure it’s at capacity. Even if your machine has a half load function, it uses considerably more than half the amount of water of a full wash. Again, it’s a change that seems minor but over time, adds up to equal serious savings. If your washing machine isn’t functioning properly, call in the help of a reputable plumbing service to assess the problem and fix it.
5. Use a Dishwasher or Bowl to Wash Dishes
If you live in a single household, we recommend using a bowl full of water to wash the dishes in. Using free-flowing water for this job is a surefire way to spend more than you should on water. Larger households will save money by investing in a dishwasher. You may require a plumbing service to install a new dishwasher or repair the old one to ensure it’s as energy-efficient as possible.
6. Time Your Showers
Technically, a shower uses less water than a bath — but only if you don’t stand under it for inordinate amounts of time!
7. Never Use the Toilet as a Trash Can
Remember, the toilet isn’t a trash can! There are only three things that should go down the toilet: water, toilet paper and human waste. Toilet paper dissolves almost instantly when immersed in water, unlike any other type of paper. Additionally, on top of being a nuisance to the environment, you’ll spend more money on the extra water used to flush foreign objects down the bowl. If your toilet in Jacksonville, FL, needs unblocking, you might need a plumbing service to come and help you out.
8. Fix All Leaking Taps
You know that tap that drips every 30 seconds, and it’s okay because you’re used to it now? Call in a plumbing service to fix it immediately! It might look like a tiny amount of water because it’s leaking so slowly, but over days, weeks and months, it adds up to gallons and puts a strain on your pocket.
11. Look for Leaks
While it’s not the most glamorous way to spend your time, lockdown presents you with an opportunity to scope out any leaks in your plumbing. Hairline fractures on your pipes could lead to even more water waste than leaking taps, and you can’t see or hear those. One of the most cost-effective things you can do in the current situation is to find those leaks and get them fixed by a skilled plumbing service.
12. Flush Less
The average toilet flush uses more than three gallons of water every single time! Armed with this knowledge, you might consider flushing the toilet as often as you have been. You can get flushers installed that let you control how much water you use each time. Speak to a plumbing service about getting this type of flush for your toilet.
Plumbing Services
If you think your home requires the help of a plumbing service to make sure you’re spending as little on your energy bills as possible, call Bert Norman’s Plumbing today at 904-686-8611.