10 Tips for Conserving Water when It’s Warm

Updated: 3/14/22 ; 11/11/2022

According to a recent study in Nature Climate Change, the Earth's warming climate has caused extreme drought conditions in the Western U.S. In fact, the megadrought that started in 2000 is now the region's driest stretch in more than 12 centuries and it is expected to last until 2030.

While droughts have occurred naturally throughout history, the report's scientists said that climate change is making droughts more frequent and more intense.

Low water level at Shasta Lake, Calif., on June 21, 2021 from the megadrought. The lake is 100 feet below full capacity. The paved boat ramp in lower right no longer reaches water. The dirt boat ramp provides temporary access. Shasta Lake provides recreation as well as drinking water and irrigation water to locations as far away as Los Angeles, which is 500 miles away.

It's hard to imagine that water, our planet's most abundant resource, is also one of our most precious. Which is why we need to remain vigilant and aware of our own water use.

The average U.S. family uses approximately 320 gallons of water per day. As the weather warms up, it can jump to 1,000 gallons per day, mostly due to lawn watering. Experts estimate that 50% of outdoor water usage is wasted due to evaporation, wind or runoff due to overwatering.

Warmer weather calls for watering thirsty lawns, growing gardens and laundry baskets fill up with dirty clothes from the beach, playing outdoors, chlorine from pools, bug repellant, etc. Water usage can creep up without us even noticing.

Check out these tips for conserving water without sacrificing fun (or paving over the yard).

Saving Water Outdoors

1. Keep Water from Evaporating

• Cover the pool when it’s not in use. The average pool takes 18,000 gallons of water to fill and 30% to 50% if the pool is not covered.
• Water the yard in the morning or evening.
• Aerate the lawn to ensure water is getting to the roots.

2. Check the Water Sources

• After use, make sure the hose is completely turned off.
• Ensure the home’s irrigation system is working properly – or isn’t leaking. Consider upgrading to one with smart rain sensors, so it doesn’t kick in shortly after a thunderstorm.

3. Keep Water Off the Driveway

• Avoid accidentally watering the sidewalk or driveway when watering the lawn.
• Sweep walkways and driveways instead of using water to rinse them.
• Use a commercial car wash; it uses only about 40 gallons compared to 100 gallons if washed at home.

4. Conserve Water

• Drain whatever water is left in the kiddie pool on outdoor plants.
• Use a rain barrel to collect water and reuse on outdoor plants.
• Grow native or regionally compatible plants because it requires less water.

Saving Water Indoors

Warmer weather means more activities, more children on vacation and (likely) more water use. Certain areas in our homes are also more likely to waste water than others: The laundry room, basement, bathroom and kitchen.

5. Keep Clothes Clean, Efficiently

• The average High Efficiency (HE) or front-loader washing machines use 17 gallons of water per load. Top-loaders use an average of 33 gallons per load.
• When washing clothes, consider using a HE machine, wash only full loads, and use the recommended amount of soap to keep from wasting water. Sometimes adding more soap doesn’t get your clothes any cleaner – it only wastes more water. Resideo's Water Leak Detector helps catch a leak and send and alert to help prevent catastrophic water damage.

6. Maintain Balance in the Basement

• Run a dehumidifier to pull moisture from the air, help keep humidity down, keep the air smelling clean and help prevent mold. Moisture tends to settle in basements due to leaky foundations and condensation from appliances.
• Use the water collected in the dehumidifier to water household plants or any other nonedible outdoor plants.

7. Pay Attention to the Powder Room

• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe around the shower and sink in every bathroom for potential leaks.
• Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, there is a leak.

8. Keep Kitchens Efficient

• Run a full dishwasher rather than handwashing dishes throughout the day, which uses fewer gallons of water.
• Consider using an ENERGY STAR certified dishwashing machine, which can save nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year compared to washing dishes by hand.
• Check for leaks around the sink, dishwasher and refrigerator.

9. Demystify the Utility Room

• Check both the bottom and top of a water heater for leaks. Even small leaks can turn into a major flood.
• Invest in a water leak detector, such as the Resideo Braukmann L5 WiFi Water Leak Shutoff, so you can be notified as soon as a leak starts, and the water supply to the home can be shut off to help prevent catastrophic water damage.
• Don't forget to check the water softener unit and its line for any water pooling or dripping. Water softeners rarely leak, but they can still potentially flood the basement.
• Checking exposed water pipes for leaks is as easy as it sounds. Fixing any leaking pipes or appliances is the best way to avoid basement flooding.

10. Look All Around the Home

• Consider using an ENERGY STAR certified dishwashing machine, which can save nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year compared to washing dishes by hand.
• Stay on top of water consumption by taking a closer look around the house for potential water issues and saving opportunities. For example, household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. Leaks usually go unnoticed until they potentially turn catastrophic.

The more we do to conserve and manage water in our homes, the bigger difference we can make in overall water conservation. We can stay cool, enjoy warmer weather and get smart about the water in our homes all at the same time.