Committed to Safety & Energy Conservation

Indoor water conservation is good for the environment and can help you save more on your monthly utility bills. Before you waste clean water down the drain, follow these steps to conserve more water indoors:

Around the House

• Check all plumbing for leaks & have a plumber repair them.
• Install aerators on all household faucets to minimize water use.
• Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss, save energy, & prevent breakage.
• Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures fall below 20℉ to prevent bursting or freezing pipes.
• Teach your children to turn faucets all the way off after each use.
• Know where your master water shut-off is located so you can turn it off in the event of a bursting pipe.
• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period where you don’t use any water. If the meter changes, there is a leak.
• Repair dripping faucets.
• Insulate your water pipes to retain hot water faster and minimize wasted water.

Kitchen

• Only run full loads in the dishwasher.
• Don’t let the water run needlessly when hand washing dishes. Hand wash dishes with two containers – one containing soapy water, and the other containing rinse water with a small amount of chlorine bleach.
• Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water.
• Start a compost pile to dispose of food waste, or simply dispose of food in the garbage. Minimize your use of garbage disposals.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator as opposed to letting the tap run for cool water.
• Heat water on the stove or in the microwave, or capture running water for other uses (like plant watering).
• Before placing in the dishwasher, remove large food particles from dishes as opposed to rinsing them.
• Defrost meat and other frozen foods overnight in the refrigerator as opposed to using running water.

Bathroom

• Trade older toilets in for newer, low-volume toilets.
• Was your toilet installed before 1980? If so, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank. These can cut down on the amount of water used after each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts.
• If your shower head can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient shower head.
• Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak that needs repairing.

Laundry

• Only wash full loads of laundry & use the appropriate load size.
• Replace your existing laundry machine with an energy-efficient model.

Conduct an Energy Audit of Your House

• Check insulation levels in your exterior walls, attic, and crawl spaces.
• Inspect for holes and cracks around doors and windows.
• When not in use, keep fireplace dampers closed to prevent air leaks.
• Properly maintain your appliances and heating/cooling systems year-round.

Develop a Conservation Plan

The following questions can help you set priority projects in mind and decide which projects to tackle first:

• How much are your energy bills each month?
• How long will it take for an investment in energy-efficiency to pay for itself in savings?
• What is your budget?
• Can you do the project yourself? Should you hire a contractor?
• How much do you have saved for repairs and maintenance?

Weatherize Your Home

Small air leaks can take a huge toll on your monthly energy bills. Here are some ways you can put an end to small air leaks and optimize the efficiency of your heating/cooling system:

• Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, air ducts, or electrical wiring penetrate exterior walls.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls.
• Install storm windows over single-pane windows, or replace them with double pane windows. You can also cover window frames with tightly sealed, heavy-duty clear plastic sheeting.

Heating Tips

• Set your thermostat as low in winter and as high in summer as is comfortable.
• Wear warm clothing in winter and cool clothing in summer to minimize thermostat use.
• Check your attic insulation to see if it meets the recommended value of R-30. Install more insulation if necessary.
• Schedule routine maintenance on your furnace or heat pump.
• Inspect your furnace filters each month. Clean and replace them when necessary.
• Make sure furniture, carpeting, and drapes aren’t blocking heating vents.
• Turn kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans off as soon as possible.
• Open the curtains and shades on your south-facing windows during the day. Close them at night.
• Check your heating ducts for air leaks.
• At bedtime or when leaving the house, set your thermostat 10° or 15° lower.

Water Heaters

• Repair leaky faucets.
• Insulate your electric water heater and surrounding pipes. Don’t cover the thermostat. Do not cover the top, bottom, thermostat, or burner component of a gas-powered water heater.
• Take more showers than baths.

Laundry

• Use cold water to wash clothes as much as possible.
• Wash and dry full loads. Adjust the water level setting for smaller loads.
• Dry towels and heavier linens in a separate load from lightweight clothes.
• Don’t over-dry clothes.
• Clean the lint filter after each use.
• Use the cool-down cycle to finish drying clothes.
• Regularly check the dryer vent for blockages.

Fat, oil, and grease are the three biggest culprits behind sewer blockages, which can cause significant property damage and create health and environmental hazards in the community. Here are some helpful tips to prevent sewer blockages and safely dispose of fat, oil, and grease:

• Never pour grease down the sink drain or the toilet.
• Place cooled grease, oil, and food scraps into a disposable container, like an old coffee can.
• Scrape oil and grease from kitchen utensils and pans with paper towels and throw them away. Keep as much grease out of the wash water as possible.
• Don’t put solids don’t the toilet or drain, such as rags, disposable diapers, baby wipes, or feminine hygiene products.
• Do not throw litter in manholes.

If you see improper materials in manholes or in sewage systems, contact Dalton Utilities at 706-278-1313 to prevent sewer backup.