How A Water Audit Could Save You Money

Audits. Let’s face it: the word hardly conjures up pleasant connotations. At best, it’s usually synonymous with a lot of hassle and a time consuming process that requires a lot of admin on your part. It is rarely something to be sought out.

But when it comes to a water audit, it’s a completely different equation and not only could it end up saving you money, but you could also see money refunded to you. What’s more, it takes very little from you to get the process started and will only usually cost you a small fee, which you will likely soon win back. You know what they say about win win situations.  

The fact of the matter is that most of us spend too much on our water bills. This comes down to a number of factors. The first and most obvious is that a lot of us are guilty of wasting our water. It’s easy enough to do and unless we’re conscious of not letting taps overflow or putting environmentally friendly measures in place, like low flow aerators on our faucets, we tend to be pretty wasteful with what we use. Not only does this result in our bills skyrocketing in costs, but it’s also harmful to the environment and has a serious knock on effect on our carbon footprint. Whether we like it or not, the world’s source of water is finite and, at the moment, we’re currently using beyond our means. Which is another reason to cut back a bit, if those hefty utility bills weren’t enough. The impact can be bad enough when it occurs of a smaller, domestic scale; imagine it on an industrial scale, whether that’s from a large company or a construction site and you get an idea of the implications on the kind of money you could be forking out as a result.

Of course, it’s not always down to our own actions that we can suddenly see skyrocketing costs. High prices can be down to the water company overcharging without you realising. When you think of the charges that are on your water bill, few of us are aware of how much we should be spending. For the most part, it can be a list of charges we accept without necessarily understanding and certainly not analysing. But these fees aren’t always correct. It has been proven that many water companies are guilty of overcharging for their water, which means you could be paying out unnecessarily money you don’t owe. This might not be down to the water company, though, either. A faulty meter is a common problem that could be sending back prices that aren’t reflective of your actual use. Whatever the reason behind it, the wrong fees can be responsible for a substantial backlog of money unnecessarily spent.

Finally, escalating costs could also be an indicator that something isn’t right with your plumbing system. Sudden high costs could signal a water leak and unfortunately, this can go unnoticed as signs of a leak often just do not show up at all. Unless you keep track of your utility bills carefully, this could go untended, which in turn could cause serious structural damage to your property. Costly bills won’t be your only problem when your property requires serious work to repair anything from ruined paintwork to structural damage!  

This is where the audit comes in handy and, as mentioned, it requires the minimal effort from you and only a fraction of the money you’re likely to see returning to you. All it takes from you is finding a trusted company, like H2O Building Services, with experts on board to carry out the audit for you. All you’ll need to supply them with is the past six months’ worth of water and wastewater bills for your property. From these, they will collate the information and put it into a database that will then enable them to get an idea of the kind of water you’re using on a daily basis, how much is wasted and the kind of fees you are incurring as a result. After this, they can then produce a report on their findings, which they can deliver back to you, the client.

So that being said, what’s the real incentive to have this done? The report will give them a better understanding of what you’re paying out for and why, which in turn will flag up any issues that don’t correlate. From your bills, they will be able to give you tips on when and where you’re overusing and wasting water and where and how you can afford to cut back, to save you money and help the environment in turn. Any unusual charges they can also address. If the audit shows that your water company is overcharging you, the experts will be aware of this and can then work on your behalf to contact the water company and not only stop these charges for the future, but also get back the money you owe, which could end up being a substantial refund. If you’re a business based in Scotland, you will also have the option to switch your water providers, for a better service and rates, which auditors will also be able to advise you on. Alternatively, if it’s down to a faulty meter, they will also be able to let you know and ensure you receive a new one, to stop any future miscalculations that end up costing you money. Finally, they’ll also be able to pinpoint and immediately address any sudden and unexpected peaks in water usage or expenditure that don’t add up. If this is down to a water leak, this will help you to address and deal with the problem, before it has any farther-reaching implications for you and your property, potentially saving you hundreds in potential work you’d have to do on your property, should the problem be left unheeded.

So when you consider the fact that not only will you be saving money in the future, but you could see a substantial claim refunded to you in the meantime, there really isn’t any more incentive necessary to look into a water audit for you and your property today. 

If you’d like more information about how a water audit could save you money please visit the H20 Building Services website - http://www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk

Is Now The Time To Switch Your Water Supplier?

I’m going to save us all some time here and just give you the answer now: yes. If you run a business in Scotland, then now is the time to switch your water supplier, or at least consider and look into your options.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a possibility for businesses in the UK outside of Scotland. But thanks to legislation that passed in 2008, non-household consumers in Scotland became the first and currently only customers that are able to look into this option. So, if you fall into the remit of businesses, charities or not-for-profit organisations, it’s well worth looking into switching water suppliers and considering what it could mean for you. It could end up saving you money. 

José Manuel Suárez via Wikimedia Commons

So why is this an option for you and your company? Well, since the legislation was passed, the water industry in Scotland has been transformed into a competitive market and, as anyone that did a Business Studies GCSE will be able to tell you, this immediately translates into a better situation for the consumer, as water companies now have to vie for business, lowering rates and offering a better service in order to stay competitive and keep their customers happy.

A new focus on the customer is now being offered, with a drive to provide a tailored service to meet you and your company’s needs that could in the end result in you saving money. With many providers, this now means experts on hand within the company to offer advice on your usage, how you could reduce the amount of water you use and, ultimately, save money on your water bills. This all translates into an improved customer service being provided for users, with people on hand when you need them to offer help and advice.

This is partly down to a renewed effort on the part of the water companies to look into and cut down on unnecessary water usage and wastage, which is not only harmful for the environment and wasting a precious, finite resource that is already seeing a strain far greater on its current reserves than is available to us, but is also wracking up costly bills and expenses, which in turn is costing you more money. By implementing strategies across the board to control and cut down on excessive use and waste of water, companies will not only be helping your green credentials, but ultimately saving you money.

Perhaps even more importantly than the fact that by switching suppliers, you could find a better service for more competitive rates that could end up saving you money, but at the moment, there’s a good chance you’re being overcharged with unnecessary and incorrect fees for the water you’re using. For many of us, our water bills equate to a list of charges that we pay without necessarily analysing, considering or even fully understanding what exactly it is we’re paying out for and whether this is the right amount for our usage. After all, unless we see a sudden spike in the price of our utilities, which could alert us to a problem, we often just accept the fees. 

But that’s where you could be going wrong as many people are paying out costs and fees they just don’t owe. This could be down to something as simple as your water company miscalculating your usage, which it has been shown many companies have been guilty of doing in the past. Simply by fixing this one issue, you’re automatically in line for some pretty big savings. 


As an example, only a few weeks ago, our water audit team at H²O Building Services identified an incorrect charge dating back to July 2007 as part of our ongoing water bill validation services to Wolseley UK. As soon as our water experts completed their on-site survey, they managed to prove that the company had falsely been charged and sent an application to Yorkshire Water, together with the supporting documentation. It was not long before a refund cheque for £2,130 was sent to Wolseley UK! (Visit our website to find out more about our water bill validation services to Wolseley UK: www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/case-studies/wolseley-uk)


So when you consider the possibility of finding a better service for a smaller price, using your own water more efficiently, which will cost you less and cancelling out any unnecessary costs and fees you might currently be paying out, there’s really no good reason not to examine your options properly.

And once you’ve made the decision that you want to look into switching water suppliers and saving money, you can then leave the hard work to someone else to do, simply by hiring a company to do it for you. Then, it’s down to the experts to assess the situation and your options for you, saving you the time and hassle of navigating a system you might not understand yourself. H2O Building Services are just one example of a company who can do this for you. 

 
There’s very little actual work for you to do to start the process and in return, a team of experts can save you money. All that is required of you is that you provide the company working on your behalf your water bills from the past twelve months for all of your properties and sites. From there, the information is loaded into a database, with the vital information then sent to different water providers, who can bid for your account. The contracts are then negotiated on your behalf and sent to you for you to choose and approve. Finally, the company will then negotiate the move for you, so you don’t have to deal with any of the admin or the hassle of doing it all and simply see an improved service for a lower cost. The exact savings you will make will of course depend on your usage, but it is estimated that most people save on average between 10-18%. All of this is then done for a small fee, which will soon be earned back from the savings you make from your water bills.

So if you run a business, charity, or non-profit organisation in Scotland, it is well worth looking into your options and considering switching your water supplier. For a small amount of work on your part, that will cost you very little money, you could end up enjoying an improved service for a discounted rate; a service that is tailored to you and your needs that will help ensure you’re using only the water you need, for a more efficient usage that will ultimately help you save even more money. 

To find out more about how H2O Building Services can help you switch water supplier, please visit our website: www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/switch-water-supplier

How a Water Consultant Can Help you Save Thousands of Pounds

Saving money on your water bill is an excellent way to reduce costs at your business. You are probably wondering how you can possibly save money on your water bill, since you pay for the water you use and need. The answer is to hire a water consultant.

What is a Water Consultant?

Water consultants are experts at helping people find ways to save money on their water bill, without having to drastically change their habits and processes. They analyse everything from your water bills to how you can recycle water and help you manage your water better, helping you save money.

When you work with a water consultant, you will be working with someone who can repair leaks, install water meters and swap fixtures like shower heads for more water efficient models. Your consultant will also assess your property to make sure you meet bylaws and regulations and can do a risk assessment survey.

Here's a video to help you better understand what water consultants do:

Why Work with a Water Consultant?

So why should your business hire a water consultant? The short answer is "to save money". A water consultant will assess your water system to find out how efficient it is, help you find ways to manage your water, help you make necessary repairs to your system and so much more.

Water Leak Detection / Image Courtesy of H2O Building Services

Water loss through leaks is a major problem that can be very expensive and even cause a lot of damage. When your system works properly and doesn’t leak water, you will notice a change in your water bill: it will be lower. Water consultants can help you save thousands of pounds each year.

But, identifying water leaks isn’t the only thing a consultant can do for your business. A consultant will be able to tell you what the condition of your pipelines is so you can update your system where needed and so you can avoid problems and expensive repairs.

Water consultants also provide water management training and support so you can learn how to use water wisely, which can also help you save money all year.

Another popular service provided by water consultants is bill validation. A consultant can analyse your water bills to make sure you are being charged correctly, and then help you work with your water company so you can correct any errors.

A water consultant will inspect fixtures like faucets, toilets and shower heads to find out if they are water efficient. If they aren’t, he or she will help you install fixtures that use less water. Contrary to popular belief, water efficient fixtures work just as well as regular fixtures, with the added benefit of helping you save money.

If your business uses a lot of water, you may be wasting water without even realising it. A water consultant can do an audit and find ways you could use water more efficiently, which could save you thousands of pounds.

Have you been using the same water supplier for years? You could see substantial savings by switching providers. Water consultants usually have access to databases and information from several different water supplies. Your consultant will enter specific details about your business and water use and find out if you can save money by switching to a new supplier. If you can, your consultant will manage the entire process.

Water consultants are experts when it comes to understanding water use, finding ways you can manage and use water more efficiently and, perhaps most importantly, helping you save thousands of pounds every year.

If your business is looking for ways to cut back, save money and become more efficient, working with a water consultant is the first step.

Here at H2O Building Services we provide high quality water management services to businesses for more than 30 years! If you are interested in finding out more about how our water consultants can help you, please visit our website: www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-consultants/

Does Your Business Need to Switch Water Supplier in Scotland?

If you own or run a business, charity or not-for-profit organisation in Scotland, then there’s good news as, as of April 1 2008, Scotland became the first country to offer non-household consumers the opportunity to switch water suppliers.

Unlike in England, business owners in Scotland can choose their water, waste services and drainage services supplier, with no limits on eligibility, beyond being non-household users. The introduction of different water companies has turned the water industry in Scotland into a competitive market, which, as with any free market, directly equates to a better market for the consumer, with services that are tailored to your needs and lower, more competitive prices and rates.

This means that switching your water provider could result in huge discounts on your water bill that could be up to, on average, between 10-18%: a sum that is not to be sniffed at when we are talking about hundreds of thousands or millions of pounds!

These discounted rates comes as a result of a lot of water providers in Scotland now making lower costs for their customers a priority. As well as more competitive prices, more attention is being paid to ensuring that water is being used efficiently, with less water wasted, resulting in a range of new services focusing on this end being brought into effect.

With a new focus on limiting the amount of water that is wasted, thus reducing costs, this automatically translates to a better service at a discounted rate for customers. The exact amount you can save will be down to your individual usage and bill, but it is likely that, by switching you water supplier in Scotland, you will be able to make sizeable savings on your water bill.

The actual process of switching companies can be quick and easy, usually taking around a month or less to do, if you seek professional help and advice from a water expert. This is, also, often a completely free service; if there is a fee incurred, it’s usually small.

All you as the customer have to do is provide your water consultant that is helping you to switch water suppliers with your water bills from the past year. From these, the information on your usage, costs and fees will be collated in a database. Water suppliers will then have the fundamental information passed on to them and they can then bid for the contract, a process which ensures you get the best service for you at the lowest rates. The company working on your behalf can then negotiate further with them to get the best deal, before passing the information back to you, the customer.
Once you have made your choice, the company can then work with you to help move your business from one company to another, as quickly and smoothly as possible, for a pain free service.

In light of this new, competitive drive to the market, more attention is being paid to the individual customer’s needs, with experts working at companies to advise on the service available for you and your business, which in turn will equate to a better experience and relationship with your water suppliers. This could mean anything from discounts on services to a greater emergency support, depending on the company you decide to go for.

So, as a result of switching water suppliers, you will be able to enjoy products and services tailored directly to you and your business’ needs and water usage. As well as this, the new focus on efficient usage of water can help you and your company reduce the amount of water wastage, which can lead to yet more savings. If you want to make sure you’re getting the most for your money and your water provider, then it’s a service to look into. So, if your company is based in Scotland, why not give us a call here at H2O Building Services and see how we can help you switch water supplier and reduce your water costs? Simply call on 0845 658 0948 or visit our website: www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/switch-water-supplier

How to Identify a Water Leak

We can all take for granted how much we rely on our water supply, both at home and at work. Whether we use it for showering or doing our laundry at home or making a round of coffee or washing our hands in the toilets at work, without it we would not only feel incredibly inconvenienced but we’d be thirsty, hungry and a little dirty too!

But if you have a water leak you or your company will be paying for more than you actually use so it’s essential to keep on top of the maintenance of your pipework and appliances. If you suspect your water bill is too high it might be because you have a water leak or overflow.

Here are our top tips for identifying a water leak.

• Underground leaks can go unnoticed for longer as it’s harder to detect them. The signs of an underground leak include soggy areas of ground, particularly in your garden, pools of water, sink holes or flourishing spots of grass or vegetation during dry summer spells.

• To check if you have a water leak indoors then make sure all your appliances which use water are switched off but leave the internal stop tap open. Take a meter reading before leaving everything switched off for a period of time – overnight is the best time when household activity is minimal. If there’s a significant change in activity overnight then it’s likely you have a leak. Check all your appliances and internal pipe joints for cracks or damage, such as your shower head and pipe connection and the pipes under your sink.

• Check your water meter – the majority of water meters are usually fitted outside near your home’s water stop valve. You will need to look for a small plastic or metal cover, usually located by the roadside, in your garden or on a nearby footpath. You will only need to read the black numbers on the screen and submit them to your supplier, either over the phone or online. They will be able to measure your water usage and gage whether it has increased uncharacteristically.

• One of the main hotspots for a leak will be your bathrooms so switch off the supply to each toilet individually and see if the red meter reading numbers continue to rise.

• Check your outside taps – hose-bibs are the pipes you attach your garden hoses to and most homes have at least one in the back garden. Listen carefully for any hissing or dripping noises to see if the pipe is leaking.

It's not always as easy to detect a water leak in a professional environment, especially if your business's offices are located in office buildings. If you suspect there is a water leak, then it's best to seek professional help and advice. For more information on water leak detection, please visit our website - http://www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-leak-detection/.