An expert has shared their seven top tips for saving on water usage as households prepare to see a big hike in bills. From April 1, water bills are set to increase by an average of £123 per year. This comes after regional water suppliers in England submitted plans to regulator Ofwat for the upcoming half-decade, detailing how much they plan to increase water charges. Some people will see higher increases than others when these changes kick in.
Customers of Southern Water will see an increase of 47%, while Hafren Dyfrdwy and South West Water customers are set for a 32% increase. Meanwhile, Thames Water customers will see a 31% hike, and Yorkshire Water bills will go up by 29%. With water bill increases right around the corner, experts have been sharing their tips for reducing your bill to save money. The tips come from the insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk, which has advised us on how to decrease water usage in our homes and keep costs down after the bill increases.
Brits can see increases in prices when they run into small maintanence issues in the home, such as leaky pipes. Fixing this, among other steps, can bring your bills down.
Ian Wilson, insurance and savings expert at Tiger.co.uk said: “If times weren’t already tough enough, the upcoming increase in water bills is sure to add more pressure. Some simple yet effective tips for saving money on your water bill begin with checking for hidden leaks that could be driving up costs and causing damage to your home.
“Refining your water usage – such as taking shallower baths, shaving a few minutes off your shower time, and ensuring taps are fully turned off – can lower your bills more than you would expect.”
Here are Ian’s tips for reducing your water bill:
- Check for leaks under sinks, bathtubs, washing machines and dishwashers and eliminate these issues.
- Prevent drips by ensuring taps are turned off fully. Also check for any small faults like worn or old tap washers which can lead to a continuous drip.
- Get a more efficient shower head. Ian points out shower heads that “regulate the water flow and aerating shower heads, which mix air with water droplets making it seem like more water is flowing”.
- Use a light flush when possible. Many modern homes have dual flush on their toilets, so only use the heavy flush when needed.
- Collect rainwater and use it for things like watering plants, washing cars and washing mucky pets.
- Only run washing machines and dishwashers when they are full to reduce the number of cycles.
- Don’t overfill things like the kettle or the bath.