How to save water in your home

With the average household using 18% of its energy to heat water, there are lots of savings to be made by using less water in your home.

Bathroom advice

Check for a leaky loo

Leaky loos are hard to spot and around 10% of homes have them. A toilet leak could increase your water bill by £50 a month, so make sure to check yours regularly. Find out how to check for toilet leaks.

Take shorter showers

Showering makes up 40% of the average household’s daily water usage. While having a longer hot shower is a treat for many of us, it uses a lot of water and energy. A family of four could save around £150 a year if each person spent one minute less in the shower each time.

Install an eco-showerhead

If you have a mains-fed shower and we supply your water, you can order a free eco-showerhead from us. This product regulates the flow, so it uses less water without reducing the pressure.

Use less when washing

You can use less water in the shower by reducing the power and turning it off to lather up or shave. And when bathing, you could save around five litres each time by reducing the water level by a couple of centimetres.

Fix leaking taps

A leaking tap could cost you £25 to £140 a year. If you spot a leak, get it fixed as soon as possible. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, you should contact a qualified plumber.

Turn your tap off

Leaving your tap running while brushing your teeth, washing or shaving wastes water. It can use up to nine litres a minute, so remember to turn your tap off when you’re not using it.

Kitchen advice

Wait for a full load

Wait for a full load before washing your clothes to reduce the number of washes you have to do. Cutting out two washes a week could save you around £50 a year on water and energy bills. You can do the same with your dishwasher too.

Dishwasher or washing up bowl?

Some newer dishwasher models use less than 12 litres per cycle – these use less water than cleaning your dirty dishes by hand. If you wash them by hand, use a bowl or plug the sink to avoid leaving the tap running. Try not to fill the bowl to the top as well.

Install a tap aerator

Tap aerators have a built-in flow regulator that separates the water into different streams. This allows air to mix with the water, increasing pressure and reducing the amount of water used.

Use the eco-setting

Use the eco-setting when using your washing machine and dishwasher. This typically uses between 20 and 40 per cent less water than a typical cycle – it will also help you reduce your energy usage.

Only use what you need

Instead of filling your kettle to the top or using a full saucepan of water, only use the amount you need. This will prevent it from getting wasted and less energy will be used to heat it.

Collect and reuse water

When doing the dishes or washing vegetables, collect the water in a washing up bowl and reuse the water on your plants. Half of our customers already do this, so why don’t you try it too?