David Schwartz
Renting your property is one of the popular and steady ways to generate income. However, it’s profitable only if you can manage rental expenses effectively.
A common expense most landlords struggle with is water bills. Especially in older buildings where the water bill is fixed in the rent, this is a major issue. Landlords have to overpay because they can’t figure out the actual water consumed by tenants.
If you have multiple tenants, water bills add up and become huge. It leaves almost a bare minimum rental income for you, the landlord.
So, in this blog, we’ll share how to save on water bills and maximize your profits!
How to Save on Water Bill?
1. Check for leaks and fix them
As per the US Environmental Protection Agency, every household wastes almost 10,000 gallons of water annually from just leaks!
So, the first tip on how to reduce your water bill is to conduct a quick inspection for leaks. Pick specific days for particular apartments and inspect all faucets, running toilets, shower and bathtub fixtures, and pipes under sinks.
Further, check for unusual water puddles in the washroom and bathroom, even when they haven’t been used for long hours.
If your property also has sprinkler systems, check for puddles around them as well.
2. Encourage tenants to be more proactive
Educate tenants about the importance of saving water. Offer them some practical and easy-to-follow tips on how to save on water bill, such as:
- Don't use taps while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Wait until washing machines and dishwashers are full to use them.
- Take showers, which take fewer gallons of water than baths.
- Turn off the shower when you use the shampoo and soap.
- Clean the driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of the hose.
- Rinse fruits and vegetables in a basin full of water instead of using running water.
- Choose drought-resistant plants to lower the watering frequency.
- Water plants late evenings and early mornings to reduce evaporation, leading to more frequent watering.
You can either share these by holding an in-person or virtual meeting. If the schedules don’t match, you can also send them emails.
Encourage tenants to reduce water consumption habits by offering them incentives.
3. Beware of toilet leaks
Ask your tenants to be alert about damage to these common toilet components.
Flapper valve
This is the little plastic/rubber valve inside the toilet tank that lets out water when flushed. Ask tenants to regularly check for flapper valve deformities or damage.
Fill valve
This valve controls the water flow to the tank. If faulty, it continuously sends water to the tank, which is drained through the overflow tube. Remind tenants to ensure there’s an inch gap between the tank water level and the overflow tube.
Tank
Ask tenants to be mindful of cracks in the toilet tank and report them immediately.
However, despite being alert, tenants may still miss it. Further, it’s not cost or time-efficient to perform frequent inspections to check for leaks in every apartment and fix them.
So, an important way to reduce your water bill is to invest in a toilet leak prevention valve with a motion sensor.
This amazing appliance opens the valve and lets water flow into the toilet tank only when anyone enters the toilet. When the person leaves the toilet, the valve closes, ensuring no water wastage!
4. Reduce the shower flow
Generally, landlords install low-flow showerheads with restrictors to reduce unnecessary water flow and water wastage. However, stubborn tenants tamper with and remove easy-to-access restrictors to increase water pressure.
So, your worry about how to save on the water bill will never end with showerheads. So, instead, invest in a tamper-proof, hidden shower flow controller that tenants can’t locate. This is installed behind the wall without tampering with concrete or plumbing.
It regulates the water flow in all units on all floors uniformly, reducing water usage during showers. This also comes with auto-clean technology, ensuring no clogging or maintenance checks.
5. Stop paying for air
Water from the municipal systems contains a mixture of both water and air. When this water goes through the water meter, the total volume (air and water) is calculated. Thus, you pay for both water and air.
So, here’s another brilliant tip on how to reduce your water bill in an apartment. Invest in a smart valve that compresses and eliminates the air volume from your water supply.
This reduces your water bills significantly. These valves are available in diverse settings, so you can adjust them accordingly.
6. Replace old fixtures
Outdated faucets, showerheads, and appliances often cause water wastage. The EPA recommends upgrading to WaterSense-labeled fixtures, faucets, toilets, showerheads, in-ground irrigation, and high-efficiency appliances.
A WaterSense-labeled toilet can save around 13,000 gallons of water annually.
7. Fix aerators on faucets
Aerators have a mesh screen and are applied on the faucet end. When the water hits the aerator, it adds air to the water stream. It separates the stream and offers the same water pressure using less water.
Different types of aerators are needed for different uses. For instance, you need aerators that offer low-pressure streams. In kitchens, you need high-pressure creating aerators to wash dishes effectively.
8. Landscape effectively
If you maintain the curb appeal of your rental property with landscaping, here’s another efficient tip on how to reduce the water bill in an apartment. Buy plants that can thrive in the natural climate of the locality without frequent watering.
Switch to smart sprinklers and irrigation systems and set them on fixed schedules. These systems will also share real-time weather and moisture level data. Thus, you can tailor watering accordingly.
9. Get submeters
If you suspect that most tenants are wasting water, install submeters for each tenant. This will help you know exactly how much water each of them consumes and charge them accordingly.
In the long run, it makes tenants cautious about their water consumption. While the initial investment is high, it leads to significant savings later on.
Conclusion
With these detailed tips, you can significantly cut down water consumption and water bills and save up on your rental property income!
For a more efficient water-saving approach, check out our innovative solutions at The Water Scrooge and let them boost your property’s profitability.