As summer approaches, one of the most important things for every family is to conserve water. Summer, in the past, has included long periods of no rain. When droughts occur, the local governments tighten the water usages allowed per household. Also, with the higher temperatures of summer, energy bills rise as well. A good way to compensate is to be frugal in other areas, like lowering your water bill.

One of the most common places we waste water is in our toilets. We don’t even think about it either. We do our business and flush, without even thinking that gallons of water are used each time. Newer toilets use about 1.5 Gallons of water per flush which is great compared to older toilets which use about 5 Gallons per flush. If possible, one of the easiest ways to conserve water is to buy a new toilet if you have one of the old ones.

A leaky toilet can drive water bills through the roof. The most common culprit of a leaky toilet is a flapper or washer that is old and has began to deteriorate. New flappers are just a couple dollars and can pay for themselves by preventing any further leaks. Flappers should be replaced annually, although some advertise longer.

The old saying “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down” may seem weird or disgusting, but it’s a great way to conserve water. Regular toilet maintenance and a change in habits can save you a lot of money on your water bill in the long run.

 
By Scott Cromley

As the temperature rises over the coming months, the grills will fire up, as people cook their favorite summer dishes. However, the delicious food can be spoiled by a dirty grill.  Cleaning your grill is as simple as cleaning your stove top after preparing food. Grills should be cleaned, at least lightly, after every use. A good cleaning involves scraping off the grates and wiping around and under the burners of a gas grill.

The grates are the most important thing to clean after every use. A dirty grate produces gross tasting food.  To clean your grates you need a stiff wire brush. Some people prefer steel brushes or brass brushes, but any brush will perform adequately. After cooking, it is best to let your grill cool down a bit, but still be warm enough for any leftover food to easily be scraped off. Cleaning your grates is as simple as giving them a good scrub, unless you have cast iron grates. With cast iron grates, a little bit of oil should be applied to the grates via a paper towel to keep the iron from rusting.

One of the advantages of charcoal grills is that they are fairly simple to maintain. After cleaning the grate all that is required is to make sure all the charcoal ashes are disposed of. Once in a while, it is also a good idea to take a bucket of soapy water and really scrub out the ashes in the bottom of the grill.  Usually, brushing out the ashes is plenty to keep your food tasting great and your charcoal grill cooking strong.

To clean a gas grill, other than cleaning the grates, it is also important to clean out around and under the burners. Food regularly falls through the grates. A common misconception is that the burners burn the fallen food and it does not need to be cleaned up. Not necessarily after every use, but often you should remove the grates and scrub out any burned food that is lying on and around the burners. A blocked burner will provide uneven heat to the grates, creating a headache for the cook. Once a year you should thoroughly clean your gas grill with soap and water, especially getting off any grease that has stuck to the lid or any side burners.

With these simple cleaning tips you can enjoy delicious food this summer and extend the life of your grill.

By Scott Cromley