Reducing water bills for a vacation rental: how can you achieve this?

Reducing the water bill for a vacation rental may be one of the issues on your mind right now. With the arrival of warmer weather, we think of swimming pools, more frequent showers to cool off, or returning from the beach… You also have to water your garden and maintain your outdoor areas…

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Water expenses can quickly add up, causing your bill to rise. Your Airbnb concierge service provides its best tips to limit water consumption in your vacation rental and thereby reduce your expenses.

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Why reduce water consumption in a vacation rental?

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It is perfectly legitimate to wonder why it is necessary to reduce water consumption in general. According to the French Agency for Ecological Transition, an average person in France consumes about 193 liters of water per day. 93% of this consumption is used for hygiene, toilets, laundry, dishes, and general home maintenance.

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This figure varies according to the standard of living of households and their housing. However, this number tends to increase during vacations. A lack of attention to good water-saving practices leads people to consume up to 230 liters of water at their vacation destination (according to the Water Information Center).

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Water consumption in France has increased sevenfold in a century. While this increase is logical given the improvement in living conditions, we must now protect this resource. The Earth is not called the “blue planet” for no reason: it is 70% covered in water. However, less than 3% of this water is drinkable. Saving water allows us to both better preserve our resources and reduce your bill by over a hundred euros.

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Taking action on water usage inside your short-term rental

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The main water expense relates to personal hygiene. When furnishing your property, choose carefully between installing a shower or a bathtub. If you opt for the latter, add a glass screen or a curtain rod to make showering easier.

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Wherever possible, choose single-lever faucets. Your guests will use less water when adjusting the temperature. From a comfort and savings perspective, the ideal choice is a thermostatic mixing valve with a double stop. Also in the bathroom, opt for a water-saving showerhead. It reduces water flow by 75% while maintaining pleasant pressure.

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The aerator, or faucet aerator, works on the same principle as the water-saving showerhead. Micro-bubbles of air are injected into the water. This technology reduces water flow by 30 to 50%. It attaches easily to all the faucets in your rental. The standard flow of 12 liters per minute drops to 5 liters.

In the bathroom, don't neglect replacing your toilet flush. Choose a dual-flush system. This system can reduce your toilet's water consumption by about 50%.

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Consult manuals and labels to choose water-efficient equipment. For your dishwasher and/or washing machine, consider a model with an eco option and/or a half-load setting. Models rated A+ to A+++ are cost-effective in the long run, even if they are more expensive to purchase. If you are hesitant about installing a dishwasher, be aware that it saves 70% more water compared to washing dishes by hand.

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Reducing water consumption outdoors

In general, you must properly maintain your pipes and water outlets. Regularly check for leaks. A dripping faucet consumes 120 liters per day, and a leaking toilet results in the loss of 600 liters of water. Read your meter in the evening and then check the numbers again in the morning. This simple check will save you many surprises.

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For your garden, look into installing a drip irrigation system. In addition to ensuring consistent watering for your garden, it saves water. If your home is equipped with home automation, you can control and adjust it remotely. Prioritize watering in the evening to limit water evaporation. Also, explore rainwater harvesting.

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One last major water expense is the swimming pool. If you wish to have one built, get help from a professional. They will be able to advise you on the ideal location: not too close to vegetation, and sunny to heat the water naturally. To limit evaporation, retain heat, and avoid debris buildup, consider covering your pool.

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Do not neglect pool maintenance. Take care of the water filtration system and replace filters regularly. Use well-dosed, high-quality maintenance products to prevent the proliferation of algae or bacteria. Regularly monitoring the water's pH will ensure its quality. When well-maintained, pool water does not need to be replaced every year: you only need to replace about 30% of the volume.

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A well-designed and equipped home makes saving water easier. However, it also depends on the behavior of the guests. Do not hesitate to remind them of simple habits using a house manual, for example.

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If you do not have the time or the ability to manage your vacation rental, our teams are here to help you optimize your investment. Our advisors are at your disposal to support you in your project.