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How to Conserve Water and Save Cash With a Few Home Upgrades

Dive into practical water conservation methods, lower bills, and help embrace an environmentally responsible home

What is it about running water that makes us feel so calm? Maybe if we thought about how much wasting water can cost, we’d reconsider how much we use. For example, you can waste a quart of water just by keeping the water running while brushing your teeth! That may not seem like much, but it can add up over time; a family of four could save at least 60 gallons of water a month by simply turning off the faucet.

Water-saving appliances and fixtures

Luckily, making a few small changes can boost your conservation efforts.

Shower head

A water flow restrictor or a low-flow showerhead are easy ways to save on your water bill. These devices reduce a flow of between five and eight gallons per minute to 2.5 or fewer gallons per minute. Best of all, the energy and water savings can pay for these improvements in just a couple of months.

You can test your current showerhead's efficiency by placing a one-gallon bucket in the shower and turning the water on full force. If the bucket fills in 20 seconds or less, replace the showerhead with one that uses less water.

Washing machine and dishwasher

If you have an older washing machine, you'll see a big drop in water and energy use when moving to a new model; you can cut water use per load in half, from around 50 gallons to about 25. You'll also see a big drop in the amount of energy required to heat the water. Likewise, today's dishwashers can reduce water use by about half of that used by older models, saving energy in the process.

Faucets  

New faucets utilize several different kinds of aerators, but all conserve water without sacrificing pressure. Older faucets use three to seven gallons of water per minute, while newer ones can cut that to around two gallons per minute, or even less.

Toilets

New low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush. They work as well as the older types but use considerably less water. Homeowners can also consider using dual-flush toilets, which offer two settings, depending on the type of waste in the bowl.

Water heater recirculation kit

A small pump that runs on minimal electricity can be attached to your hot water system to help keep hot water circulating when it's not in use. This prevents waste of up to 10 gallons of water while waiting for the shower to heat up. Tankless water heaters offer the same convenience but at a higher cost; a recirculation system can sometimes be installed for as little as $300.

Fix leaks

Have water leaks in your home fixed right away. Even a tiny leak can quickly add up to a huge amount of wasted water. A faucet leak of just one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water in a year.

A Plumbing Protection Plan  for maintenance and repairs can also help you save. We offer a wide variety of protection plans to help cover plumbing, appliance, and water heater costs.

Browse our protection plans

Our plans give you lots of options, so you can get just what you need for your home without paying for coverage you don't need.

Shop our protection plans

Terms and conditions contained in the protection plans may limit our contract obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions, and our cash back offer. View plan details for more information.

*Repair claims are limited to $500 per service call and $2,000 per plan in the aggregate per plan term. Plans are provided by NRG Protects Inc. Independent contractors will be performing various services under the plans. In some instances we may make a cash payment in lieu of repairs or replacement in the amount of actual cost, which may be less than retail, to repair or replace any covered system, component, or appliance.

**If your authorized repair technician determines that the water heater is deemed irreparable, we will give you a credit of $500 towards a replacement water heater by your authorized repair technician.

Once repair plans commence, there is a 30-day waiting period before you may request services for a claim. Unless the plan provider elects not to renew the plan, upon expiration of the first year, the plan will automatically renew at the standard rate and terms unless you opt out of the auto-renewal option in writing by mail at P.O. Box 2309, Houston, TX 77252- 2309, by email at cancel@nrgprotects.com or by calling us at 1.855.241.9094. Sales tax will be added in select states.

This is a summary of what the provider will and will not cover under the plan, and is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the plan. The Terms and Conditions may limit the provider's contractual obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions and any cash-back option available under the plan. Please refer to the Sample Terms & Conditions for details.