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Appliance Tips

When used properly, household appliances
can be water efficient.

While household appliances including dishwashers and washing machines might make everyday life easier, they may not always be water efficient.

Save both time and water with just a few simple adjustments to your routine:

• Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are completely full.
• Purchase high-efficiency appliances and reduce your water and energy use by as much as 50 percent.
• Adjust the water-level settings for the most efficient run.

Dishwashers

When used properly, dishwashers can actually be more efficient than hand washing. If you don't have a dishwasher, here are some easy ways to save water:

• Fill your sink with water for rinsing.
• Don't run the water without plugging the sink.
• Turn faucets off when not in use.

Washing Machines

Laundry consumes about 22 percent of water used inside the home. A traditional washing machine will use 40 to 47 gallons of water per cycle. High efficiency washing machines use 11 to 32 gallons per cycle.

The majority of high efficiency washers are front loading. These machines use about 40 percent less water and put less wear-and-tear on your clothes.

WaterSense and Energy Star

Both the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense and Energy Star programs offer special labeling on high efficiency appliances that save water and energy. Look for these labels if you are shopping for a new dishwasher and/or washing machine.