With Novembers arrival, the holiday season is upon us, which can be an expensive time of year for anyone hosting gatherings. The Hicksville Water District Board of Commissioners is sharing tips to help residents conserve water and save money over the next few months.
“A household can save about 50 gallons of water by defrosting frozen food in the refrigerator the night before hosting a holiday meal,” said Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer. “Instead of submerging a frozen turkey into a sink full of water that needs to be changed several times and can take up to 12 hours to defrost, use your refrigerator. Not only do you save yourself from last-minute stress, now you can utilize your sink.”
In addition to the amount of water used while preparing and cooking food, many people waste several gallons of water during the clean-up process. “A common mistake people make in the kitchen is pre-washing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. It not only doubles the work you are doing but uses twice as much water,” added Commissioner William Schuckmann. “In fact, the average home would save 6,000 gallons of water per year if they stopped pre-rinsing dishes.”
The holidays can also lead to running the washing machine more than an average week. The Hicksville Water District suggests instead of throwing kitchen towels and dining linen into a single load, wait until you have a regular-size load to run the washing machine or adjust the water-level setting to fit the needed load size. Another money saving tip is to use cold-water detergents whenever possible. Switching temperature settings from hot to warm can cut a load’s energy use in half.
Residents and homeowners can also save money by properly winterizing any water pipes located susceptible to freezing temperatures. “It’s important if you live in a climate that experiences seasonal changes to winterize your home by taking the proper precautions to prevent any damage from pipes freezing,” said Hicksville Water District Superintendent Anthony Iannone. “We have had a warm fall, so homeowners may not be in the mindset of preparing for cold temperatures. We encourage residents to make sure to repair broken or cracked windows and doors where cold air could come in, disconnect outside faucets, remove hoses and drain the pipes. Water expands when it freezes and can create pressure leading to a burst pipe. In that event, a broken pipe can produce four to eight gallons of water a minute, leading to potentially thousands of dollars of damage rather quickly.”
The Hicksville Water District Board of Commissioners also urges residents spending several days away from home during cold weather to arrange to have someone visit periodically or leave a faucet dripping to prevent pipes from freezing.
