I’m a plumber – a £25 switch could help cut your bills by £500 a year
A PLUMBER has revealed how a £25 bathroom switch could cut your bill by up to £500 a year.
Water bills are increasing by 6.2% a year in England and Wales this month, so it’s a great time to put some money-saving hacks in place.
Most modern toilet systems come with a dual flush option but many users don’t know just how much of a difference it can make to your bills.
The reason why your toilet system comes with this option is for water conservation.
The large flush can use six to nine litres of water at a time, whereas the small flush uses far less – around three to four litres.
Using the correct flush could save you 50 to 60% of the water every use.
Experts at Plumbworld say switching to a dual flush can save as much as £500 a year on household bills.
But how much you can save will vary depending on local water rates and each household’s water consumption habits.
If you don’t already have a dual flush system at home, it can cost as little as £25, according to Daniel Weston at Plumbworld.
He said: “The installation of a dual-flush mechanism is designed to be a straightforward DIY project that most homeowners can manage without professional help.
“The kits are generally universal, fitting most standard toilets, and come with all necessary components and clear instructions.
“This ease of installation not only saves on upfront costs but also empowers homeowners to upgrade their bathrooms with minimal disruption.”
The Sun found a dual flush kit for sale at Screwfix for £12.96 and another at B&Q for £19.99.
As always it is good to do your own comparisons and shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal and the product that is right for you.
You can use comparison sites such as Google Shopping if you want to compare online prices across different retailers.
If you do instal a dual flush, it’s important to check that the system isn’t leaking water into the bowl – if so it could end up costing you more each year.
More tips on how to save money on your water bills
If you are on a water meter there are some things you can do to cut back on your water usage and save money.
Using the dual flush system on your toilet can help you cut down on your water bills and could save you up to £100 a year.
Many modern toilet systems come with a dual flush option but many users don’t know how much of a difference they can make.
The large flush can use six to nine litres at a time, whereas the small flush uses less water, coming in at three to four litres.
Using the correct flush could save you 50-60% of the water in every use.
The large flush should be used for solid waste while the small flush for liquid waste.
You can also save money by turning the tap off when you brush your teeth, just this small change to your daily routine could save you quite a bit of cash.
If you brush your teeth for two minutes and let the tap run you could use over 12 litres of water – which could cost you over £60 a year.
Only using the tap to clean your brush and the sink will use a fraction of that.
If you haven’t already you could consider moving to a water meter to save some extra cash.
Obviously, if you do use a lot of water then it makes no sense to have a meter as your bills could go UP so think about how much your household uses before making the switch.
Having a water meter doesn’t help with the standard charge that’s based on where you live either, but it can help you cut down the costs of your personal usage at home.
What water bill support is available?
IT'S always worth checking if you qualify for a discount or extra support to help pay your water bill.
Over two million households who qualify to be on discounted social water tariffs aren’t claiming the savings provided, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).
Only 1.3million households are currently issued with a social water tariff – up 19% from the previous year.
And the average household qualifying for the discounted water rates can slash their bills by £160 a year.
Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can help reduce your bills if you’re on a low income and the CCW is calling on customers to take advantage before bills rise in April.
Who’s eligible for help and the level of support offered varies depending on your water company.
Most suppliers also have a pot of money to dish out to thousands of customers who are under pressure from rising costs – and you don’t have to pay it back.
These grants can be worth hundreds of pounds offering a vital lifeline when faced with daunting water bills.
The exact amount you can get depends on where you live and your supplier, as well as your individual circumstances.
Many billpayers across the country could also get help paying off water debts through a little-known scheme and even get the balance written off.
Companies match the payments eligible customers make against the debt on their account to help clear it sooner.
If you’re on a water meter but find it hard to save water as you have a large family or water-dependent medical condition, you may be able to cap your bills through the WaterSure scheme.
Bills are capped at the average amount for your supplier, so the amount you could save will vary.
The Consumer Council for Water estimates that bills are reduced by £307 on average through the scheme.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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