HOW DO YOU REALLY SAVE WATER AT HOME? QUICK POLL
Honestly, I think you’re spot on about the small stuff making a difference. I used to get hung up on the idea that I needed to invest in fancy appliances or do a full bathroom remodel, but just fixing a leaky faucet made a bigger dent in my bill than I expected. The bucket trick is clever—never thought about using that water for mopping, but it makes sense. Ever tried putting a timer in the shower? It’s a bit nerdy, but it helped me realize how long I was actually in there. I do wish there were more practical options for older homes too... retrofitting is just not in my budget right now.
I do wish there were more practical options for older homes too... retrofitting is just not in my budget right now.
Same boat here—my place is from the 60s, so I’ve had to get creative. I actually measured how much water my old toilet uses per flush (it’s a lot). Ended up putting a filled water bottle in the tank to displace some of it. Not fancy, but it works. Has anyone tried those faucet aerators that claim to cut usage without messing up the pressure? I’m curious if they’re worth the couple bucks.
Has anyone tried those faucet aerators that claim to cut usage without messing up the pressure?
I swapped in aerators in my kitchen and bathroom last year—honestly, I was skeptical at first. But the pressure feels pretty much the same, and I noticed my water bill dropped a bit. It’s a super quick fix: just unscrew the old one, pop in the new. If you’ve got old fixtures, sometimes you need an adapter, but it’s usually a $5 fix. Not glamorous, but it works.
HOW DO YOU REALLY SAVE WATER AT HOME? QUICK POLL
But the pressure feels pretty much the same, and I noticed my water bill dropped a bit. It’s a super quick fix: just unscrew the old one, pop in the new.
I’ll be honest, I was a bit of a skeptic about those aerators too. Tried them out in a couple of client kitchens—mostly because people kept asking about “green upgrades” that don’t mess up the look or function. My biggest worry was the water splashing everywhere or the flow feeling weak, but that didn’t really happen. The pressure’s fine, and you barely notice any difference visually.
One thing I did notice: if you’ve got one of those super modern, high-arc faucets, sometimes the spray pattern changes a bit. Not a huge deal, but if you’re picky about how your sink rinses (or if you have shallow sinks), it can be mildly annoying. Anyone else run into that?
Honestly, though, I think the bigger water hogs are showers and old toilets. Aerators help, sure, but if you’re serious about cutting usage, I’d start with swapping in low-flow showerheads and maybe even dual-flush toilets if you’re remodeling. I’ve seen clients get way more savings from those than just changing a faucet tip.
Quick fix ideas: I tell people to check for leaks under sinks and behind toilets. It’s wild how many slow drips go unnoticed. Also, if you’re redoing a bathroom, consider a smaller tub—giant soaker tubs look great in photos but nobody fills them all the way anyway, and they waste a ton of water.
Curious if anyone here actually tracks their usage month to month? I’ve never bothered, but some folks swear by those smart meters. Is it worth it?
I’ve actually had a few clients mention the same thing about high-arc faucets—
It’s not a dealbreaker, but I’ve noticed it too, especially in kitchens with shallow sinks. Sometimes it just means wiping up a little extra water here and there.“if you’ve got one of those super modern, high-arc faucets, sometimes the spray pattern changes a bit.”
I agree that aerators are a nice quick win, but the real game changers have been low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets. I put both in during my own bathroom remodel last year. The difference in the monthly bill was more noticeable than I expected, and honestly, I don’t miss the old fixtures at all. The shower still feels great—maybe even better.
I haven’t tried a smart meter yet, but one client swears by theirs. They like seeing patterns month to month and catching leaks early. I’m tempted, but part of me wonders if I’d just obsess over every spike... Sometimes ignorance is bliss, right?
