Conserving Water In Your Home

After the water shortages which we experienced across Ireland in recent years, it should be a wake up call to begin conserving water, if you aren’t already doing so. Below, we provide tips to conserving water in your home and garden that not only are environmentally friendly, but could also save you money. And who doesn’t want that?

Conserving water in the home

We use water every single day in our homes, from showers to washing up to plain old drinking. But where can we look to save the amount of water we’re using in these daily tasks?

The bathroom

The bathroom is one of the first places you should begin conserving water, as consumption is in your control. Four quick and easy ways to save water in your bathroom are:

1. Don’t run the tap while brushing your teeth
2. Take shorter showers
3. Do not use the toilet as a bin
4. Switch to an efficient shower head

Home appliances

Home appliances that require water generally attribute to its waste. For example, when you make your evening cup of tea, how many times do you boil only as many cups as you need? Starting this habit will not only save water, but could also save energy and money. Washing machines and dishwashers also consume a lot of water per use, so it’s important to be economical when cleaning both your dishes and clothes.

Conserving water in your garden

Water is the fuel that plants need to grow and stay alive during the winter when growth is difficult. Plants also use water to cool down during hot weather and to prevent sunscald. As a result we can end up using a huge amount of water in these spaces, leading to a lot of it being wasted. Here are some ways to avoid that.

Keep a basin in your sink

Keep a basin at the bottom of your sink and collect water when using it to wash vegetables. Collect the run-off water to water your plants.

Timing is everything

Water your plants early when temperatures are lower, such as the early morning or evening time. This will prevent water from evaporating during the heat of the day.

Use mulch, bark and straw

Lay down straw, bark and organic mulch to your garden soil to help it retain more water. In addition to saving water, mulch will help to improve soil texture and suppress weeds.

Focus on greenery which needs water

Not everything in your garden will require a top up of water. Don’t worry if your lawn changes colour as most grass areas recover quickly when the rain returns. Many plants can survive on little water such as rosemary, fuchsia and lavender.

Rainwater harvesting

A water butt is an environmentally friendly way of collecting rainwater for your plants year-round. Rainwater tends to work better for plants compared to tap water, as it has all the nutrients required for growth without the added chlorine. Water butts capture the rainwater from the gutters in your home. A 210l water butts can be purchased and installed for an all-in cost of around €135.

Use water-retaining crystals

If some of your plants are in pots, you might want to consider using water-retaining crystals. The crystals are like sponges and hold in a lot of water and release them gradually into the soil.

Water less

Train your plants to become less reliant on water by simply watering less. By watering less, the plants in your garden will develop deep root systems. A good watering every 10 days or so will be sufficient for most plants.

Invest in a moisture meter

Moisture meters are easy to use and provide an accurate reading of the moisture of your soil. If the moisture level is below 30%, a top up of water is required. Anything above 30% and you keep the watering can away.

We hope these tips prove useful and help you conserve water and make savings around the home. On top of providing money saving tips, we also offer a range of great value home insurance policies.