How to reduce water consumption?

Changing everyday habits helps reduce water consumption at home. You can save both water and the costs of water heating.

A man is sitting at a table with an open laptop, writing notes in a notebook.

What contributes to household water consumption?

Household water consumption is affected by several factors – the number of members and everyday habits (length of showers, use of the bath, frequency of laundry washing), the efficiency of installed sanitary fittings and household appliances, water pressure in the system, as well as the technical condition of the equipment, such as leaks or calcification of heating elements. It is also important whether water-saving solutions, such as aerators, are used.

  • Saving water starts with habits – shorter shower time, the correct choice of programmes and proper maintenance significantly reduce consumption.
  • Choosing efficient equipment and carrying out regular maintenance – lower energy consumption and a longer lifespan for appliances.
  • Sanitary fittings with water-saving functions – help reduce water and electricity costs in the long term.
A man and a woman are standing in the kitchen, drinking coffee.

Which water heater will be most suitable for your home?

To prepare hot water efficiently, it is important to choose a water heater that is suitable for your home and family size, and to use it correctly.

A water heater (boiler) icon.

Boilers (storage water heater)

Hot water is heated in advance and stored in a tank.

A tankless water heater icon.

Instantaneous heater

Water is heated only when it is actually being used, thereby reducing energy losses. They do not cause energy losses associated with storing hot water.

A combination water heater icon.

Combined water heater 

A combined water heater operates using both electricity and thermal energy if it is connected to an existing heat supply system.

Combined boilers heat hot water through a heat exchanger inside the boiler, so there is no need to install an additional hot water tank.

A water heater (boiler) icon.

Boilers (storage water heater)

Hot water is heated in advance and stored in a tank.

A tankless water heater icon.

Instantaneous heater

Water is heated only when it is actually being used, thereby reducing energy losses. They do not cause energy losses associated with storing hot water.

A combination water heater icon.

Combined water heater 

A combined water heater operates using both electricity and thermal energy if it is connected to an existing heat supply system.

Combined boilers heat hot water through a heat exchanger inside the boiler, so there is no need to install an additional hot water tank.

Types of water heaters and their differences

 

Advantages

  • Low electrical power consumption – 2 kW on average.
  • Water pressure is not critical.

 

Disadvantages

  • Heat losses, as the water is kept hot continuously.
  • Lower comfort level.
  • Larger size.
  • Longer water heating time (1–8 h depending on capacity).
  • Regular maintenance is required.

 

How to choose the right tank size? 

The tank size should be adapted to the number of family members and their habits:

  • For 1 person – 30–70 l
  • For 2 persons – 80–150 l
  • For 4 persons – 100–250 l
  • ≥5 persons – up to 300 l

 

Advantages

  • Low electrical power consumption – 2 kW on average.
  • Water pressure is not critical.

 

Disadvantages

  • Heat losses, as the water is kept hot continuously.
  • Lower comfort level.
  • Larger size.
  • Longer water heating time (1–8 h depending on capacity).
  • Regular maintenance is required.

 

Advantages

  • Water is heated faster using solid fuel (firewood, briquettes, pellets) than using electricity.
  • Large volumes of hot water can be supplied continuously.

 

Disadvantages

  • It takes up a relatively large amount of space. Before purchasing it, a suitable space has to be prepared at home for its mounting.
  • Installation is fairly complex – the heating appliance is connected to the flue and fitted with connections to the water supply.
  • Fossil fuel is used, generating CO2 emissions, whereas electricity usage generates no emissions.

What should you change in your water usage habits?

Try these simple tips to use less water in future.

A sink icon with a dripping faucet.

Water tap

Turn off taps and the shower properly – a dripping tap can waste up to 60 litres of water per day.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving – this can save up to 10 litres of water.

A faucet (tap) icon.

Choice of appliances

Using taps with a water-saving attachment – an aerator that mixes water with air – it is possible to reduce water consumption by 50%.

Remember that some taps already have a built-in aerator.

A water mode selection icon.

Toilets

Use dual-flush systems or special dispensers to ensure that only the necessary amount of water is used with each flush.

At the same time, it is advisable to choose environmentally friendly cleaning products that do not harm the beneficial bacteria in water treatment facilities. This helps to protect the environment and reduce unnecessary chemical consumption.

A washing machine icon.

Laundry washing

Choose shorter washing programmes and a lower temperature of 30-40°C if the clothes are not very dirty – this reduces both water and electricity consumption.

Use the pre-wash function only for very dirty clothes if soaking is necessary.

A showerhead icon.

Washing

Using a shower instead of a bath means six times less water. When showering, water consumption is approximately 25-50 litres per wash, compared with at least 100 litres for a bath.

Choose a shower head with a flow reducer or a thermostatic tap to reduce water consumption by ~8 litres per minute.

A clock icon.

Shower time

Reduce the time spent in the shower to save about 10 litres of water. If you reduce your showering time by just two minutes, it is possible to save up to 8,000 litres of water over a year.

A water heater (boiler) icon.

Boiler

Set the boiler temperature to 55-59 °C – a higher temperature provokes calcification, thus increasing consumption.

Carry out maintenance at least once a year, as a calcified heating element leads to a higher electricity consumption. During maintenance, the heating element must be cleaned, the anode checked and the inside of the boiler flushed out – you can do this yourself or leave it to a specialist.

An electric kettle icon.

Electric kettle

When preparing a meal or boiling water in an electric kettle, pour in only as much water as necessary, thereby saving both water and electricity.

A dishwasher icon.

Dishwasher

Consider buying a dishwasher – it uses considerably less water (6–12 litres) compared to washing by hand (50 litres), and it also washes at a lower water temperature.

At the end of the washing cycle, the dishes are treated with steam, thereby reducing both the electricity consumption needed to heat the water and the time you can devote to yourself and your family.

A sink icon with a dripping faucet.

Water tap

Turn off taps and the shower properly – a dripping tap can waste up to 60 litres of water per day.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving – this can save up to 10 litres of water.

A faucet (tap) icon.

Choice of appliances

Using taps with a water-saving attachment – an aerator that mixes water with air – it is possible to reduce water consumption by 50%.

Remember that some taps already have a built-in aerator.

A water mode selection icon.

Toilets

Use dual-flush systems or special dispensers to ensure that only the necessary amount of water is used with each flush.

At the same time, it is advisable to choose environmentally friendly cleaning products that do not harm the beneficial bacteria in water treatment facilities. This helps to protect the environment and reduce unnecessary chemical consumption.

A washing machine icon.

Laundry washing

Choose shorter washing programmes and a lower temperature of 30-40°C if the clothes are not very dirty – this reduces both water and electricity consumption.

Use the pre-wash function only for very dirty clothes if soaking is necessary.

A showerhead icon.

Washing

Using a shower instead of a bath means six times less water. When showering, water consumption is approximately 25-50 litres per wash, compared with at least 100 litres for a bath.

Choose a shower head with a flow reducer or a thermostatic tap to reduce water consumption by ~8 litres per minute.

A clock icon.

Shower time

Reduce the time spent in the shower to save about 10 litres of water. If you reduce your showering time by just two minutes, it is possible to save up to 8,000 litres of water over a year.

A water heater (boiler) icon.

Boiler

Set the boiler temperature to 55-59 °C – a higher temperature provokes calcification, thus increasing consumption.

Carry out maintenance at least once a year, as a calcified heating element leads to a higher electricity consumption. During maintenance, the heating element must be cleaned, the anode checked and the inside of the boiler flushed out – you can do this yourself or leave it to a specialist.

An electric kettle icon.

Electric kettle

When preparing a meal or boiling water in an electric kettle, pour in only as much water as necessary, thereby saving both water and electricity.

A dishwasher icon.

Dishwasher

Consider buying a dishwasher – it uses considerably less water (6–12 litres) compared to washing by hand (50 litres), and it also washes at a lower water temperature.

At the end of the washing cycle, the dishes are treated with steam, thereby reducing both the electricity consumption needed to heat the water and the time you can devote to yourself and your family.