How to Save Water and Money Despite Summer's Heat

When the temperature rises, so does the average American homeowner's water bill. Saving water may feel like a task better postponed for the fall, but it doesn't have to be that way. Reducing water usage doesn't require eliminating comfort, convenience or that all-important summer pastime - fun! Little things mean a lot. Here are some simple tricks that can help you reduce your water usage and lower your water bill this summer.

Sprinkle Wisely
If you use an automatic sprinkler system for your lawn, you may be wasting more than half of the water you're sprinkling. Check in with your landscaper or local utility company and ask them how much water they think your type of landscape and plants require as well as what the best time of day to water is. If you're overwatering, not only will your lawn languish, but you will lose a significant amount of water to runoff, a complete waste. If you have your timer set for late morning or the afternoon hours, you are probably losing most of your water to evaporation. Consider setting your sprinkler for the early morning or sunset hours instead. Also try to group plants together that have the same type of watering requirements.

Feel Like Mowing? Take a Nap Instead
Who doesn't love the scent of freshly mowed grass? Letting your grass grow longer, however, will help it to resist drought conditions and reduce evaporation, translating into less need for water.

Check Your Pool For Leaks
If you're lucky enough to have a swimming pool, you probably know that the average pool loses an astounding thousand gallons of water a month through the simple physics of evaporation. The amount of water wasted goes even higher, however, if the pool has unnoticed cracks in its foundation, linear tears or pipe damage. Many pools have automatic refillers, so the leakage that results from this type of wear and tear may go unrealized for some time. Simple fixes that will keep your pool deeply filled and refreshing include seasonal maintenance from a pool pro who understands your climate, and keeping a watchful eye on the water bill, to check for spikes that don't make sense. Midnight swims are fun, but make sure to cover your pool when it is not in use to eliminate evaporation, particularly during the overnight hours.

Keep a Check on Kiddie Fun
Kiddie pools that need to be filled manually can utilize anywhere from three to 20 gallons of water, all of which will stagnate and attract mosquitoes if not dumped and refilled often. Consider using a kiddie sprinkler system instead, but opt for one that has a slow-flow mechanism. Limit the amount of time it will be turned on, so kids can enjoy water fun at home but simultaneously learn about the benefits of conservation.

Employ Shower Power
A cool, 10-minute shower is more refreshing than the average soaking bath and also uses around 25 gallons of water instead of 50. Save your floaty rubber duck for special occasions and opt for once-a-day showers instead. If you install a low-flow shower head, you will decrease your water usage by an additional 50 percent.

Inspect for Leaks
If yours is like the average family, your leaky toilet, faucets and shower head may be draining you of 15 percent of your monthly water bill. Replace faulty washers and check your plumbing for leaks regularly all year round, but particularly during the summer, when water usage is at its highest. You can also use your water meter to check for leaks. Check your meter before and after a period of at least an hour when no water is being used. If the readings are not the same, you probably have a leak.

Maintain Good Habits
Make turning the faucet off when you are brushing your teeth or shaving and running the dishwasher and clothes washers only when they are full your standard, go-to behaviors. The water you save through regular maintenance and good habits could translate into significant savings, better used on water-filled weekend getaways to the beach or summer vacations at the lake.