The average water bill in the UK is £34 per month, equating to £408 a year according to the most recent 2021-2022 data. That’s nearly a week’s wages for the average worker.
Because of this, many people want to know how to reduce their bills. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use. Check out our three tips for cutting the cost of water below:
Only Run Your Washing Machine When It’s Full
Washing machines use nearly the same amount of water and energy whether empty or full. Therefore, always put on a full load when washing clothes. Optimising loads reduces bills dramatically because it lets you use your washing machine less often.
Some washing machines have “half load” options. Don’t use them. While they might seem like a great way to save energy, they don’t reduce it by much in practice: perhaps 10 per cent.
To reduce water usage, you can also wash your clothes by hand. If you are careful, you can use less than a gallon, but the results might not be as good as with the machine.
To reduce energy bills, wash at 30°C. If you need to wash items at higher temperatures to sanitise them (such as bedding), wait until you have a full load. This way, you only need to do one expensive wash a month.
Use The Dishwasher Instead Of Washing Up
This tip might sound a little strange, but it works. It turns out that using a machine is more efficient than doing it by hand.
According to figures, washing dishes by hand comprises around 4 per cent of the total household water consumption. By contrast, dishwashers account for only 3 per cent.
It all comes down to how most people wash up by hand. Most leave the tap running to rinse soap suds, increasing total water usage considerably. By contrast, filling up a dishwasher and setting the cycle to “eco” uses less water and produces cleaner results. Crockery and cutlery are more hygienic and clean all over, not just on the parts you can see.
Fix Broken Pipes
Lastly, if you notice your water bills going up, it could be because of broken pipes. Water could be escaping into the walls, foundations, or landscaping outside, pushing your bills up artificially.
Pipes can break for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, it’s because they’re old and worn out. Other times, they get crushed by the weight of soil above or fall victim to errant tree roots.
If you have broken pipes, you’ll need to arrange professional drainage solutions. Experts can locate the source of the leak and tell you whether it’s causing any damage to surrounding structures. In most cases, they don’t have to dig up your landscaping. Instead, they can repair pipes from the inside out using new technology.
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Some washing machines have “half load” options. Don’t use them. While they might seem like a great way to save energy, they don’t reduce it by much in practice: perhaps 10 per cent.
To reduce water usage, you can also wash your clothes by hand. If you are careful, you can use less than a gallon, but the results might not be as good as with the machine.
To reduce energy bills, wash at 30°C. If you need to wash items at higher temperatures to sanitise them (such as bedding), wait until you have a full load. This way, you only need to do one expensive wash a month.
Use The Dishwasher Instead Of Washing Up
This tip might sound a little strange, but it works. It turns out that using a machine is more efficient than doing it by hand.
According to figures, washing dishes by hand comprises around 4 per cent of the total household water consumption. By contrast, dishwashers account for only 3 per cent.
It all comes down to how most people wash up by hand. Most leave the tap running to rinse soap suds, increasing total water usage considerably. By contrast, filling up a dishwasher and setting the cycle to “eco” uses less water and produces cleaner results. Crockery and cutlery are more hygienic and clean all over, not just on the parts you can see.
Fix Broken Pipes
Lastly, if you notice your water bills going up, it could be because of broken pipes. Water could be escaping into the walls, foundations, or landscaping outside, pushing your bills up artificially.
Pipes can break for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, it’s because they’re old and worn out. Other times, they get crushed by the weight of soil above or fall victim to errant tree roots.
If you have broken pipes, you’ll need to arrange professional drainage solutions. Experts can locate the source of the leak and tell you whether it’s causing any damage to surrounding structures. In most cases, they don’t have to dig up your landscaping. Instead, they can repair pipes from the inside out using new technology.
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