Water in summer is essential. We need water to stay hydrated, keep cool and have fun! The average American family uses 300 gallons of water a day, but that amount often increases during the summer. In the summertime, people often shower more, fill up home pools and use more water on gardening and lawn care.

We all spend more time outdoors during the summer. When you spend more time outdoors, you naturally bring in more allergens and sweat back inside with you. That can mean more showers for your household, which can dramatically increase your water consumption. To reduce shower usage without limiting comfort, there are many water-efficient shower heads on the market. Many use less than 2 gallons per minute and are worth the investment. Additionally, shower filters reduce chlorine, scale and sulfur odor and help prevent dry skin and chlorine damage.

Although shower water filters are a relatively quick, DIY solution, there are also long-term solutions that will benefit your entire home. Installing a  whole home water filtration system allows you to have cleaner water everywhere.

We all know it’s important to stay hydrated during the heat of the summer. Why not plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of good quality drinking water available in your home. Culligan Water has many options to keep you hydrated this summer and year round. You can have bottled water delivered to your home so that you can always grab a bottle as you walk out the door. Alternatively, having a reverse osmosis drinking water system installed provides you with the ability to have clean, great tasting water while at home or fill up a reusable water bottle and take water with you anywhere.

Dirt, mineral deposits and sediment accumulate at the base of the water heater tank and needs to be flushed annually. Call in a professional to clear yours and let them know when you’ll be going on summer vacation. Your water heater can cost you extra money while you’re away so to avoid unnecessary expenses, you can turn it off or set it to a lower setting. Additionally, summer water usage typically requires less heat so you can drop the temperature a few degrees to save even more on your water bill.

Do you know whether your home has hard or soft water? Water softeners can improve the quality of your water and you will see results in all areas of your home from the feeling of your skin and hair to your laundry. Hard water is common throughout several regions in the U.S. Since hard water usually doesn’t affect the taste of your drinking water, many people do not know if they have hard water.

Some telltale signs of hard water in your home include:

• Water spots on dishes, glassware and utensils
• Mineral build-up on faucets, sinks and tubs
• Needing excessive cleaning products due to mineral build-up
• Higher electric and gas bills due to the mineral build-up on water heater heating coils
• Shortened life spans for water using appliances from mineral build-up on internal mechanisms
• Increased soap and shampoo use, hard water doesn’t produce a good lather
• Stiff, worn clothes and dull color from leftover mineral and soap residue
• Dry, flaky skin and brittle hair from leftover mineral and soap residue

As you get ready for greater water consumption in the summer, avoid any burst pipes by checking your home’s water pressure. Water pressure gauges are available at most home improvement and hardware stores. The average home’s PSI (pounds per square inch) is between 40 to 45. If you find that your home’s water pressure is too high, you can lower it using your home’s water pressure valve, or having a professional come in and install a water pressure meter.

If you are interested in saving money this summer on your water usage, contact your local Culligan Water of Kansas City to learn more about how we can help diagnose and treat your water and offer a fix that fits the unique needs of your home.