A common mistake related to water pressure could be costing households an additional £186 on their water bills each year. High water pressure, often going unnoticed, can lead to a 30% increase in water consumption, resulting in wasted water and higher costs.

With water bills rising across the country starting April 1, Nancy Emery, home expert at Drench, urges homeowners to check their water pressure and manage their consumption to avoid unnecessary expenses. Ms Emery said: “High water pressure can cause excess water flow through taps and appliances, increasing consumption by 30%. Maintaining the right water pressure helps to prevent unnecessary water waste and ensures your water system is running as efficiently as possible.”

Ms Emery suggested a variety of household tools that can help manage water usage, such as water-saving shower heads, tap aerators, and water butts. Additionally, simple habits around the home can make a difference.

Ms Emery added: “With the increases set to impact us from next month, it’s best to be on top of these things now to avoid any unnecessary spending.”

Check and adjust water pressure

Ms Emergy suggested using a water pressure gauge to check your pressure by attaching it to an exterior tap. The ideal range is two to four bars. If the pressure is too high, install a pressure-reducing valve to avoid waste. Conversely, low pressure can lead to longer water usage, increasing waste as you compensate for slower flow.

The home expert added: “You should also ensure that your taps and shower heads are compatible with low pressure systems and designed to work in homes where the water pressure is 0.2 bar or less.”

Install a tap aerator

A simple device that reduces water flow from taps, an aerator can save up to 10 litres per minute according to Ms Emery. Aerators can be installed in kitchen and bathroom taps, as well as showerheads, hose pipes, and even hot tubs.

Fix leaky taps

A trickling tap can use over 450 litres a day or a huge 175,000 litres of water in a year. Ms Emery said: “This costs the average homeowner over £300 extra on their water bill, which can be prevented with a simple fix.”

She added: “Usually, leaking taps are caused by a degraded tap washer, so it’s a good idea to find the root of the problem.”

Switch to a water-saving shower head

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Showers often account for the largest portion of water use in a home. Switching to a water-saving showerhead can reduce water consumption by up to 50%. Alternatively, installing a flow regulator can also limit water flow and save you money.

Ms Emery said: “Similar to my first tip, you can switch out your shower head for an aerator shower head. Alternatively, if you’re on a tight budget, a flow regulator is a great option. They simply screw onto your shower hose and control the flow of water, reducing the maximum flow and saving you large amounts of water.

“The average flow rate of a shower is between 10 to 15 litres per minute, but with a flow regulator, this can be reduced to four to 10 litres per minute.”

Maintain your showerhead

Regularly cleaning your showerhead can prevent mineral build-up and ensure efficient water flow. Ms Emery said: “Cleaning your shower head will ensure it continues to work at its best without wasting any water.”

Use the dual flush option for toilets

Toilets use around 30% of household water. If your toilet has a dual flush system, make sure to use the half-flush option to save water. Ms Emery said: “Most modern toilets will come with a dual flush mechanism, with a flush volume of six litres and a half option using just three. This means that there is potential to save three litres of water using the half flush, which could save around 24 litres of water per person per day.”

If your toilet doesn’t have this feature, Ms Emery suggested considering installing a dual-flush conversion kit.