Hello, my name is Lelani O’Malley. Welcome to my website about keeping your plumbing system in great shape. When I bought my first home, I was shocked to learn that it was built in the early 1900s. Another shocking discovery awaited as I learned that the plumbing system remained from its original build. Upon learning those facts, I dedicated my time to learning how to keep that system in great condition. I developed this website to bring that knowledge to you as well. I want to help all my readers maintain their existing plumbing system for years to come. Thank you for coming by.
4 Ways To Collect Waste Water To Flush Your Toilet
There are many reasons why you might want to use waste water to flush your toilet. If your region is experiencing a drought, using waste water can save gallons of water that would be used for flushing. Or perhaps you just have a heart for conservation and want to be environmentally friendly. Finally, if you are experiencing plumbing problems with your toilet tank or flush handle, using waste water to flush can allow you to use your toilet until a plumber can make it to your home, saving you the cost of an emergency visit.
But where do you get waste water from? You might produce more than you think. Here are four ways to collect waste water from your home.
Collect Water From Your Washing Machine
Often, the waste hose from a washing machine is a plastic hose that is slipped down a metal pipe to drain into your sewage system. You can easily remove this hose from the pipe and place it in a deep bucket to collect the water for flushing your toilet. When doing this, make sure your bucket is large enough to hold the water from a wash and rinse cycle and find a way to secure the hose to the bucket so it does not slip out when water is running through it. This can be done with a large clip or a string tied to a bucket handle.
This is a particularly good option if your washing machine is in or near your bathroom, as you will not have to move the water far to use it in your toilet.
Collect Water From Your Dishwasher
Collecting from your dishwasher is similar to collecting from your washing machine. However, you will likely have to carry the water to your bathroom to use it. It is important to use your dishwasher water soon after it is collected, as food particles in the water can begin to rot, causing an unpleasant odor, if you let the water sit.
Collect Sink Water
A bucket the size and shape of your sink makes collecting sink water easy. This is a good idea if you usually fill the sink to do dishes. Instead, fill a bucket and use that bucket to flush your toilet when you are done. An often overlooked sink is the bathroom sink. Placing a bucket in that sink will collect water every time you wash your hands, depending on how many people are in your home, it can usually be used for one or more flushes.
Collect Shower Water
You can create a complicated shower tray system to collect your shower water. These systems allow you to stand on a flat surface and have the water drain down a drain to a bucket instead of outside of your home and can often be found on outdoor shower websites or constructed by your local plumber. However, you can also use a more simple solution. You can place a wide bucket next to you to collect some of the water that would run down the drain. Some people stand in a bucket while they shower, but then you would be standing in used water, so that is something you will have to consider.
Shower water is an excellent option for water collection because the water can be stored longer than dishwater or washing machine water without spoiling and it is near your toilet.
For some people, collecting waste water to use in the toilet is a way of life, used daily to conserve water. But even if you don't use these methods all of the time, it is a good idea to know how to collect waste water in case of a plumbing emergency. Check out sites like http://1stclassplumber.com/ for information about how a plumber can help you save water.