Utility bills have continued to tick up over the years and many families are now finding their budgets quite constrained. Further, with droughts common in many parts of the United States, conserving water is important for the environment and community. Fortunately, plumbers have a lot of tools in their toolboxes that can help families and organizations save water. Here's how they can help you.

Identifying Leaks

One of the best ways plumbers can save water is by identifying and fixing leaks. A dripping faucet may not seem like a big deal. However, a single leaking faucet can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Often, fixing a faucet is relatively straightforward if you have the right skills and tools. Besides faucets, some toilets continuously run, wasting water. Fortunately, plumbers can fix these too.

Plumbers can also closely inspect a property to see if there are any leaks. Often, pipes are leaking and property owners don't even realize it. A pipe might be leaking outside and underground. In this case, the average homeowner may never even realize that something is wrong without the help of a plumber.

Installing Water-Efficient Features

Saving water isn't just about preventing and fixing leaks, however. Another great way plumbers can help lower water consumption and thus your utility bill is by using water-efficient fixtures. Toilets used to use 3.5 gallons or more to flush, according to Plumbing Manufacturers International. As a result, these toilets will consume a lot of water during everyday use. Meanwhile, more modern toilets will typically use less than 2 gallons per flush. With that in mind, Plumbing Manufacturers International found that if we did not change from 3.5-gallon toilets in 1992 we would be using 437 billion more gallons of water per year.

Many people are surprised at just how big of a difference the right toilet can make. However, the right toilet can quickly save families thousands of gallons of water per year. For large organizations and buildings, like a hotel, the savings can add up very quickly.

Outside of toilets, the right faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures may also result in substantial water savings. Anyone who is unsure of what fixtures to get should talk with a plumber as they may have recommendations. The right fixtures may depend on your specific needs and situation.

Providing Tips and Education

Plumbers can help in many other ways as well. A plumber can educate people and provide tips for reducing water consumption by changing certain habits, for example. A plumber can also audit a household or organization to determine what's using the most water and how the consumption can be decreased.

If you're sick of high utility bills and are looking for ways to save water, contact RDW Plumbing LLC today.