It’s a hotter than hot summer in Dubai and as DEWA encourage us to ‘make smart summer choices’ on our home energy habits, we have to agree that many homes we visit leave a little to be desired when it comes to conserving resources. Following on from our popular ‘home cooling money saving tips’, here’s our two pennyworth on the subject of water and plumbing.

1. Get some gadgets

For most people, the subject of energy saving sounds like a good but undoubtedly expensive idea. On the contrary, a few small purchases from the hardware store could lead to significant reductions in your home water consumption. Things like water-efficient showerheads and aerators for your taps won’t cost the earth but will use consistently less water for the job at hand. Meanwhile moderate purchases on items like swimming pool covers will ensure you aren’t losing precious inches every day through evaporation.

Home appliances like washing machines & dishwashers can certainly guzzle large volumes of water, but this can vary significantly depending on the model you choose. Buying cheaper appliances can cost you more in the long run if they are less energy efficient so look out for ESMA rated varieties or be sure to check and compare energy related specifications prior to making any buying decisions.

Similarly, your old original toilets could be flushing cash down the drain as newer varieties save approximately 6 litres per flush compared to older ones. This alone can add up to an annual water saving of around 10,000 litres per person, meaning more ‘ching ching’ in your pocket and less digits on your DEWA bill.

2. Look for leaks

If you do notice your DEWA bills creeping up it is important to rule out leakage as a cause, or your water and financial wastage will only escalate. While DEWA is responsible for water leaks in the pipe before the meter, anything after that is the responsibility of the house owner or tenant.

If you’ve been spotting puddles on the ground or pools of water outside the chances are leakage is to blame – either externally (from a tank, hose or sprinkler system) or potentially more worryingly within your indoor plumbing system.

• Signs of indoor leakage include returning damp spots on floors (who keeps dropping water in here?) odd smells, bubbling wall paint or even the sound of running water.
• Outside, if you experience potholes in the garden, cracks in paving, areas of grass that are greener than others or damp exterior / garden walls a leakage is likely the cause.

One way to know if you have a leak for sure is to turn off all taps and anything that uses water including appliances, then check the numbers on your water meter dial to see if they have changed after not having used any water for an hour or so. If you notice your water pump running when no water is being consumed in the property, this signifies a malfunction. If you have any concerns over water leaks and the associated cost of wastage it is time to call a reputable plumber without delay. DEWA recommend checking for leaks twice yearly so it makes sense to schedule this as a routine inspection while getting your water tank cleaned, which is also recommended every six months by Dubai Municipality.

3. Stop leaks at the source

Puddles on the ground outside could be an indication that your home’s water tank is leaking, either from a rooftop tank with water travelling down, or up through the ground from your tank situated underneath. Water tanks deteriorate over time and can also malfunction due to improper positioning and inevitable wear and tear of their connections and hardware.

To elongate the lifespan of your tank you should ensure it is cleaned by professionals on a regular basis. Besides being bad news for your health, dirt accumulating in your water tank can cause the entire system to become less efficient. Water tank cleaning reduces the chances of undesirable substances from entering your home and can identify leaks through regular routine inspection.

Although clogging in your tank is the result of naturally occurring silt that build from the bottom up, 9 out of 10 tanks that we visit have far more than this innocuous sand-like substance inside them by the time they get cleaned. This is because Dubai’s hot temperatures make it highly common for algae and bacteria to breed, so if stagnation is allowed to occur, waterborne diseases like Legionella can thrive. Even if you are lucky enough to escape the health problems associated with these kinds of bacteria, like an upset stomach or worse, not many of us like to think of such contaminants coming into contact with our family’s hair and skin – which is inevitable if your tank isn’t getting regularly cleaned.

Lurgies aside, a good maintenance team will always check your hardware for any issues while they clean your tank, thereby reducing the risk of leaks getting worse and preserving your water tank for many more years to come.

4. Reuse the water in your tank

When the time comes for your tank to be cleaned it is important to isolate it for 24 hours beforehand so you can utilise the water stored in the tank and prevent wastage. If you hire professionals who do not give you this notice or isolation has not happened by the time they arrive for whatever reason, try using the leftover tank water on your garden.

If you are isolating your tank yourself, remember to switch your isolation valve which is located in the pump cabinet. If you don’t have an isolation valve you can stop the tank refilling by tying your float valve up with a piece of rope or sturdy string.

5. Hire accredited technicians only

If Dubai regulations were followed to the letter you would have a scrupulously clean water tank all year round. The problem is that for domestic properties this responsibility lies with landlords – which becomes a grey area when it comes to ensuring the maintenance gets done.

Dubai Municipality urge residents to only hire accredited professionals for water tank maintenance and they are careful about who they award this to. Technicians must carry out a 3-day training course every year to acquire such a stamp of approval, which gives you an idea of your water tank’s importance in terms of cleanliness and consumption efficiency – and also why there are only a small handful of certified companies operating in Dubai.

6. Be consistent to make the biggest savings

Experts believe simple water saving techniques could save your household on average 44,000 gallons of water per year, while the government of Dubai state that mindful changes could slash an astonishing 50% off your energy bill. Note that water leakage issues are more common in older villa communities where it is often more difficult to spot problems in underground water tanks or in the garden’s irrigation system, so getting an expert opinion may be crucial if you are living in one of Dubai’s more mature developments. A professional home maintenance company will be able to assess your home for heavy or unnecessary water consumption and rule out any plumbing issues while suggesting cost-effective ways to mitigate simple over-use.

For information about water tank cleaning, home plumbing, electrical appliance installation or anything else you find interesting in this article, feel free to reach out to our customer service executives who will be only too happy to answer your questions and help you decide what is best for your property.