Page last updated on 17th August 2026

A father and son in front of the sink, washing hands.

10 effective and easy ways to save water at home

Having access to water is such a vital part of our everyday lives that it's easy to overlook how much energy is used to heat up our water and how that impacts the environment. In fact, Water UK found that nearly 95% of the public underestimate how much water they are using daily. But it’s not too late to make a change. By adopting these simple ways to save water at home, you can do your part to save water and energy.

To help with this, we’ve put together a list of 10 ways to save water at home. These simple yet effective tips can help you save water and reduce your water bills at home.

What's on this page?

If you’ve asked, “how can I save water at home?”, this guide covers simple changes that can make a difference to both water use and energy efficiency.

10 ways to save water at home

Turning off running taps

Turning the tap off when you’re not using it is one of the quickest and easy ways to save water at home. A running tap can waste over 6 litres of water per minute, so small daily choices really do add up. Turning the tap off while brushing your teeth or whenever it is not needed can help reduce water use and save on water bills at home. It’s one of the easy ways to save water at home.
Reducing shower time

Shorter showers can reduce both the amount of water you use and the energy needed to heat it. According to Energy Saving Trust, an impartial and trusted organisation for energy efficiency, around 12% of energy bills from a gas-heated household are from hot water used for showers, baths and taps. So, while we may all occasionally enjoy a long, hot shower, reducing the duration of your showers can help you save on water bills as well as reduce water usage.

If you’re looking at how to save water and energy, cutting back your shower time is one of the most effective everyday changes you can make. Some simple ways to save water and energy in the shower include:

Shower length - Choose your favourite 4-minute song from your playlist and challenge yourself to finish your shower by the time the song ends. Halving your shower time could significantly reduce your household energy bills.
Shave before getting in the shower – you can rinse off any shaving foam once you get in.
Replace your shower head with a water-efficient one – in a 10-minute shower, a low-flow shower head could save you up to 90 litres of water.
Avoid turning the water temperature too high - the higher the temperature, the more energy you’ll use.

Baths vs showers: which uses more water?

The answer depends on how long you spend in the shower and how full you make the bath.
Some people may be under the impression that baths use more water than showering. However, this is all dependent on how long you spend in the shower, and how much you fill up your bathtub. On average, a bath uses about 80 litres of water when half-full while an average 10-minute shower uses 120-150 litres. If you’re looking for ways to preserve water but want to enjoy a bath every now and then, you should:

Avoid overfilling your bathtub.
Set the temperature at a reasonable level instead of adding cold water to very hot water.
Once you’ve finished bathing, reuse bath water for houseplants so that it goes further.
Ensure the bath plug is properly fitted to prevent water from draining while the bath fills.

Fixing leaks quickly

A dripping tap can waste around 5,500 litres of water a year, enough to fill over 60 bathtubs holding 80 litres each. If you notice a leaky tap or pipe, getting it fixed as soon as possible is a simple way to save water at home. For anyone wondering how to save water at home, fixing leaks quickly is a practical place to start.
Using your kettle efficiently

Only boiling the water you need is a simple kitchen habit that can help save both water and energy. Some of the best ways to save water and energy are more straightforward than you’d think. One simple way of saving water in the kitchen is to avoid overfilling your kettle. A full kettle takes more energy to boil, even if you do not need all the water inside it. Filling it with only what you need can help lower the cost of boiling water. You could also measure water in a cup or pot first to avoid overfilling. If you want to know how to conserve water at home without making major lifestyle changes, using your kettle efficiently is a simple place to start.

Saving water with dishwashers

Used well, a dishwasher can be more water-efficient than washing up by hand. Modern dishwashers, especially those with eco settings, can use less water than handwashing. Some ways to conserve water with your dishwasher include:

Only put the dishwasher on when it’s full. Cutting out just one dishwasher load per week could help you save on energy bills.
Put your dishwasher on an eco-setting, if it has one. Using an eco-setting can help save more water and energy.
Scrape your dishes, DON’T rinse them. Rinsing your dishes before putting them into the dishwasher wastes water and is generally not necessary with modern dishwashers.
Schedule your dishwasher for off-peak periods, if you’re on a time-of-use tariff or flexible energy scheme. Some dishwashers have built-in timers, allowing you to schedule cycles during off-peak hours when your electricity may be cheaper, if you’re on a time-of-use tariff, or signed-up to an energy flexibility scheme that rewards you for using energy at off-peak times. However, you can only benefit from these new flexible tariffs and schemes if you have a smart meter, and not all currently suppliers offer these kinds of tariffs.

Using appliances efficiently is an important part of how to reduce water waste at home while also helping lower household energy costs.

For more information, check out our page on energy flexibility and how switching to a smart meter can help you benefit from certain energy-saving schemes.

Using your washing machine efficiently

Running full loads and picking the right settings can help your washing machine use water more efficiently. In the same way, using a washing machine efficiently is part of how to save water at home and reduce your water bills.

Keep loads full. Save water and energy by only using your washing machine when it is fully loaded.
Avoid overloading your washing machine. Follow your appliance’s recommended capacity to ensure water is used efficiently.
Choose the right program. Wash your loads on eco-cycles if your washing machine has one.

If you’re asking “how can I save water at home?”, start by looking at how often you use appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.

Saving water outdoors

Using less water in the garden can make a noticeable difference. Depending on the time of year, garden hoses and sprinklers can contribute to a significant proportion of water waste in the household. Here are some of the best ways to save water in the garden:

Collect rainwater using a bucket or water butt. This can be used for watering plants.
Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening. This will reduce evaporation so that your plants need less watering.
Use a watering can instead of sprinklers. Sprinklers can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour. Instead, using a watering can helps target the plant’s roots directly and conserve water.

These are some of the 10 ways to save water at home that can make a noticeable difference during warmer months when outdoor water use increases.

Reusing water safely

Reusing water, where it’s safe to do so, can help cut waste without adding much effort to your routine. Another simple way to save water at home is to reuse or share it where appropriate. Here are some ways you can do that:

Feed plants with cooled down cooking water, for example, water used to boil pasta.
Reuse bath water to wash your patio.
Collect shower water in a bucket for household cleaning.
Use rainwater to water plants and lawns.
Run one bath for young children to share.

Households exploring how to conserve water at home often find that reusing water is one of the easiest habits to introduce.

Maintaining appliances regularly

Keeping appliances in good working order can help prevent unnecessary water waste and keep them running efficiently. One of the 10 ways to save water is to make sure your appliances are working properly. Fixing leaky toilets or even descaling your shower head to maintain water pressure can help you save on water bills and energy costs at home.
Regular maintenance is one of the 10 ways to save water that is often overlooked but can help prevent unnecessary waste over time.

Because many water-saving habits also reduce how much hot water you use, they can help lower your energy use too. A smart meter can help you keep track of that energy use through the in-home display, making it easier to see the impact of changes around your home.

If you’re using less hot water for showers, baths or appliances, a smart meter can help you see how those habits affect your household energy use over time. It’s a simple way to keep track of the changes you’re making at home. Book your smart meter installation today. Type the name of your energy supplier in the box below, and we’ll take you to the right place.

FAQs on how to reduce water waste at home

How to save water at home without changing your routine too much

Simple actions like turning taps off fully, shortening showers and only running full appliance loads can all reduce water waste without requiring major lifestyle changes.

How to save water and energy at the same time

Reducing hot water use is one of the easiest ways to lower both water and energy consumption. Shorter showers, eco appliance settings and efficient kettle use can all help.