The annual water bill in the UK is now over £400, and that’s just for the cold water we use.
When we add in the electricity or gas we use to heat water for baths and showers, the annual cost of water is many times more.
Everyone knows the simple ways of saving water such as not leaving the tap running when brushing teeth, but there are several other tips and gadgets which can help you save water – and save money too.
Eco Shower Heads
Eco shower heads work by mixing the flow of water with air.
This means that the flow of water feels just as powerful, but the actual volume of water used is decreased.
Eco shower heads work on both electric and mixer showers, and are usually fairly simple to replace.
You can buy a new shower head from large DIY stores or plumbers merchants for around £25 to £50, and if you don’t feel up to tackling the job of replacing your shower head yourself, a plumber will charge around £75 to do the job for you.
Lower Capacity Baths
A standard bath uses around 80 litres every time you have a bath.
Switching to having a quick five minute shower instead of a bath will cut the amount of water you are using in half, but if you are still a bath fan, you can install a special low capacity bath which is slightly smaller and will use less water too.
Swapping the bath is a relatively expensive way of saving water, so it is probably not something you should consider doing unless your old bath is no longer fit for purpose.
Expect to pay around £200 for a new, smaller bath, and then another £200 to £300 for a plumber to remove the old bath and install a new one.
When looking for a plumber for this sort of work always get at least three written quotes from local companies to ensure you to compare effectively and get the best price possible for your job.
Save Water with a Shower Timer
Showers are way more economical than taking a bath, but if you spend 10 minutes or more standing under the shower the benefit is cancelled out, especially if you have a power shower.
In countries such as Australia shower timers are commonplace, with users being urged to keep showers under the four minute mark to save water.
Shower timers are very cheap to buy at less than £5, and will help focus the mind on keeping your shower short.
Fix Dripping Taps
A tap which is left dripping can waste enough water in a day to fill a bathtub.
Always deal with drips and leaks immediately, as the longer you leave a tap dripping, the more water you are wasting.
A good plumber will be able to fix a dripping tap in minutes, and can also make suggestions about other ways you could try to save money on your bathroom water bill.
About Top Tradespeople
Now that you have an idea of the cost of hiring a plumber you may be ready to get quotes for a home improvement project.
Top Tradespeople provides a free service for homeowners to compare quotes from tradesmen (including plumbers and plumbing contractors).
Use our jobs posting forms around the site to get matched with your next local tradesperson.
Top Tradespeople have been connecting homeowners with local tradesmen throughout the UK since 2008.
If you don't want to have to DIY, you can always post a job for a tradesperson using our job posting forms across the site, without obligation.
