How Do People Spend Their Time on the Toilet?

Friday, 29 May 2015 by Ri Industries

People are, by nature, very social beings. We look to spend time with friends and family and feel lonely when we are by ourselves for too long – except when it comes to time spent in the loo. Then, most of us, look to be alone. After all, these are very personal matters we are attending to. But, have you ever wondered exactly what goes on behind those closed toilet doors?

If you have, you are not alone. Plenty of studies have been conducted to determine how we spend our time in the loo. Always looking to keep our customers informed, Ri Industries has compiled a list of some the most interesting findings for your amusement and education.

An average person will spend approximately 1 and a half years of their life in the toilet.
Men spend more time on the loo than women do.
A 2013 study found that 6% of Australians access social networks in the toilet and 7% access social networks in the bathroom.
A study conducted by MSN News in 2013 found 59% of men and women admitted to sending texts and 45% to sending emails, nearly a third said they had taken a call and 24% revealed that they have phoned someone whilst on the toilet.
29% of people in the study said it was because they ‘wanted to prevent boredom setting in’ and 12% said that they felt pressure to stay on top of emails and messages, even while in the toilet.
15% of people admitted to having dropped their mobile down the toilet.
An American Standard study found 63% of people read books, magazines, and newspapers when in the toilet.
95 percent of people do not wash their hands properly before leaving the bathroom, according to a 2013 study conducted by Michigan State University researchers.
15% of men don’t wash their hands, ever, compared with 7% of women. And of the people who do? Just 50% of men use soap, compared to 78% of women.

So now you know what happens behind those closed doors. We bet you’ll remember those hand washing facts the next time someone reaches to shake your hand!

Top 3 Ways To Conserve Water In Your Bathroom

Monday, 20 January 2014 by Ri Industries

Are you looking for easy ways to conserve water? Your bathroom is a good place to start. Between showers and flushing toilets, wasting water is a frequent occurrence in the bathroom.

Here are three top ways to conserve water in your bathroom:

Tip #1: Shorten your showers

The average person spends eight minutes in the shower, which uses approximately 62 litres of hot water. If you cut your shower down to five minutes, you can save about 22 litres of water with each shower. Need help shortening your shower? Select a five-minute song, and when the music stops, your shower is over.

For extra water conservation, consider changing out your showerhead to a high-efficiency rain showerhead. A high-efficiency rain showerhead helps save costs in two ways: less water and lower heating costs.

Tip #2: Turn off the bathroom tap when you’re not using it

This seems like such a simple tip, really, but it is surprising how many people keep their bathroom tap on while they are brushing their teeth, washing their face and hands, or cleaning the sink. When you turn the water off during these tasks, you are reducing water waste – by about 30 litres a day!

Tip #3: Use rainwater for flushing

Did you know you can install a rainwater tank and have it connected to your toilet plumbing? Have a concrete rainwater tank put in your backyard to collect rain from your roof and gutters. Then, every time you flush, you are using rainwater, instead of water from the main. Recycled rainwater is an excellent way to conserve water, plus it will save on your monthly water bills.

When looking for a rainwater tank, look for one made of concrete. A concrete rainwater tank keeps the water cooler, prevents the development of algae and is more durable than other rainwater tanks. Also, make sure your rainwater tank has a secure lid to protect your water from insects and dirt.

While your bathroom may be one of the busiest rooms in your house, it doesn’t need to be the center of wasteful water usage. By implementing these three water conservation tips, you’ll appreciate lower water and heating bills, plus help in conserving water in your community. If you need help finding solutions for water conservation in your home, please contact us with any questions.

How To Teach Kids About Water Conservation

Sunday, 19 January 2014 by Ri Industries

At Ri-Industries, we are committed to teaching water conservation to all people – and that includes kids. Believe it or not, children are not too young to learn ways to conserve and recycle water in the home.

Here is a list of 13 water conservation tips just for kids:

Turn off the bathroom tap when you don’t need water, especially when you’re washing your hands or brushing your teeth.
Showers use less water than baths do, so try to take a shower when you can.
Only flush human waste. Don’t throw tissues, sweet wrappers or paper in your toilet. It makes your toilet use more water to dispose of these items.
If you are doing dishes, turn off the tap as you scrape food into the bin. Only use water when you are rinsing dishes.
Let a parent know if you notice a leaky tap.
Find out if you have a leak in your toilet with this fun test. Place a drop of food colouring in the toilet tank. If colour shows up in the bowl and you haven’t flushed, your toilet has a leak.
Observe when your sprinkler system is running and let a parent know if it is running during the hottest part of the day. The sun absorbs the water too quickly then.
If your job is to water plants, remember that you only need to sprinkle them with water. A little bit of water goes a long way when it comes to gardening.
Collect the water from a pot of cooked pasta or other food (make sure it’s cooled off first!) and put into a watering can for your indoor plants.
When you want to wash your bicycle, fill up a bucket with water instead of using a hose. Hoses let out much more water than you need.
Does that shirt really need to be washed? Only put dirty clothes into your laundry hamper. This will save water when you use the washing machine.
Did you know buying recycled paper products helps with water conservation too? It takes about 22 litres of water to produce a dollar’s worth of paper. Ask your parent to look for recycled paper to save water and the environment.
Get your parents to check out concrete rainwater tanks. They collect rainwater that can be used for irrigation or hot water systems.

And for more great water tips, check out this video from Watersong.com.au:

If you need help finding solutions for water conservation in your home, please contact us with any questions.

Your Rainwater Tank: What Can You Use The Water For?

Monday, 18 November 2013 by Ri Industries

In July 2006, South Australia began requiring that most new homes have a rainwater tank plumbed into the house, in an effort to reduce the demands on water supply in the region. As a result, South Australia has more rainwater tanks in backyards than any other state in Australia.

A rainwater tank is a great way to conserve water. Typically, rainwater tanks collect water that has run off your roof or gutters. If you have a rainwater tank in your home, or are thinking of purchasing one, you may be wondering what you can use the rainwater for.

Here are some uses for the water collected from your rainwater tank.

Hot water systems

In most homes, hot water comes from a separate plumbing unit, so you can use rainwater to produce hot water for your use. Because the water is heated, your water will have less pathogens that cause illness. While still not recommended for drinking, having a hot water system hooked up to your rainwater tank can be used for other hot water uses, such as cleaning and showering.

Laundering

Another excellent use of a rainwater tank is for laundry. For either cold or hot water laundering, your rainwater can supply the water to your washing machine, which will save you money every time you start a load of laundry.

Toilet flushing

Ask your plumber to connect your toilet to your rainwater tank. Rainwater is an excellent water source for flushing your toilet. And with the average household flushing their toilet 2,000 times a year, think of the savings you can create when you use rainwater.

Irrigation

One of the most popular uses of rainwater is for irrigation. Rainwater can be applied to your lawn or garden through many methods, including a gravity-fed water hose, watering can or directly pumped to your sprinkler system.

Is rainwater safe to drink?

SA Water recommends that you not drink the water from your rainwater tank. Variables such as emissions from vehicles, gutter cleanliness and industry emissions can affect the quality of the collected rainwater. If you want to consume water from your rainwater tank, it is recommended you add a filtration system to purify the water.

No matter how you to choose to use your collected rainwater, your decision to use a rainwater tank is helping the local ecosystem by recycling water and putting less strain on local water mains. Consult with a plumber or rainwater tank expert to determine what size tank you need, and how you should use the water. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us about any rainwater tank needs.

Natural Ways to Keep Your Bathroom Clean

Wednesday, 9 October 2013 by Ri Industries

If you are interested in purchasing a Ri-Treat Waste Water system or septic tank, you are looking for the greatest level of water-filtering efficiency at the lowest environmental cost. These systems allow you to utilize your local ecosystem to your own personal advantage.

However, Ri-Industries products are not the only natural solution to your daily household needs; there are many natural ways to keep your bathroom clean without hurting the local environment with damaging chemical cleaners.

Here are just a few suggestions for how to clean your bathroom, the natural way.

Suggestion # 1: Daily Maintenance

Believe it or not, daily maintenance of your bathroom can ultimately lead to less intensive cleaning in the long run. How is this possible? To put it simply, cleaning your bathroom for a few minutes each day will keep your tub, sink, and commode from getting putrid. Use a cup to wash the soapy residue down the drain after you shower. Have a towel handy to periodically wipe dust off the mirrors and windows. Finally, try picking a day each week to wash the water around the toilet bowl using your toilet brush, focusing on the water line inside the bowl. With regular maintenance, you’ll never have to do any hard-scrubbing.

Suggestion # 2: Use Natural Cleaners

For those hard-to-reach spots that daily maintenance just can’t handle, you may need to add a bit of cleaner and extra attention. But this does not mean that you need to use a brand name cleaner that may contain harmful chemicals. Try using natural alternatives, such as baking soda and vinegar, or soft cleaners like vegetable oil soap. Vinegar and salt make an especially good surface cleaner, while baking soda is an effective ingredient for cleansing and deodorizing your bathroom.

Suggestion Number 3: Safe Disposal

Using chemical cleaners is especially damaging to your local ecosystem in a non-sewered area, where your waste water can filter in with the ground soil. To protect the area around your home, and work with your natural resources instead of against them, it is important to be conscious of what you are flushing down your drains. For toilet stains, sprinkle baking soda in the bowl, and add vinegar and scrub with a brush. When cleaning and freshening the sink drain, pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. You can flush the mixture away using boiling water. If baking soda and vinegar don’t satisfy you, make sure you invest in a biodegradable cleaner that will have the least impact on the environment.

Do you think you are up to the task of keeping a clean, all natural bathroom? Remember, every little effort counts toward maintaining a healthy local ecosystem. If you are interested in this and other ways that Ri-Industries can help you help your environment, contact us here.

9 Tips on How to Take Care of Your Septic Tank

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 by Ri Industries

Your septic tank may not always be top of mind when you’re considering home maintenance, but it’s an important part of your home and something not to be overlooked. Properly caring for your septic tank will extend its life and value, while helping to keep septic tank costs down. Follow these nine easy steps to septic tank care, and you’ll help maintain your septic tank even longer:

Septic Tank Care Tip #1: Don’t throw rubbish down your toilet.
It’s so tempting to flush rubbish down your toilet, but it’s very unhealthy for your septic tank system. When you flush items such as cat litter, facial tissue and paper towels, you can clog your septic tank. Use your litter bin for these items.

Septic Tank Care Tip #2: Don’t pour grease down the drain.
If you pour grease down your drain, it could clog your septic tank drain field. Grease doesn’t allow the soil around your drain field to absorb liquids, which could cause a back-up and result in the added expense of digging a new drain field.

Septic Tank Care Tip #3: Purchase the right kind of garbage disposal.
Consider investing in a top-of-the-line garbage disposal, which will do a better job grinding your food waste. The more ground your food, the better it will be absorbed in your septic tank system.

Septic Tank Care Tip #4: Repair leaky faucets.
Water that is wasted through leaky taps puts a strain on your septic tank system (not to mention, it also increases your water bill!). Be sure to repair leaky tap right away.

Septic Tank Care Tip #5: Don’t pour household chemicals down the drain.
Dispose of motor oil, antifreeze, paint, pesticides and potent cleaners properly. They should never be poured down the drain because they kill bacteria that breaks down solids in your septic tank.

Septic Tank Care Tip #6: Never drain your pool or hot tub water into your septic tank system.
Chlorine from your pool or hot tub can break down the important solid-busting bacteria in your system, just like household chemicals can. Additionally, adding a large influx of water into your septic tank can cause your drain field to flood.

Septic Tank Care Tip #7: Perform an inspection of your septic tank on a regular basis.
The frequency of a septic tank inspection depends on the manufacturer – it can range from three months to three years. Some septic tanks can be inspected by the consumer while others need to be inspected by a technician. In any case, be sure to have your septic tank system evaluated on a frequent basis to catch any minor repairs before they become costly ones.

Septic Tank Care Tip #8: Pump your septic tank.
Most septic tanks need to be pumped every 3-5 years. The frequency depends on how many people are in your home. The more people living in your house, the more often you should pump your septic tank.

Septic Tank Care Tip #9: Take care of your drain field.
Make sure all water is diverted away from your soakage area. Additionally, only landscape your soakage area with grass. If you want to add plants, be sure to only pick ones with shallow root systems. Finally, never park a vehicle on top of your soakage area. Vehicles can put a strain on your soakage area and may lead to ruptured pipes.

By following these nine tips, your septic tank system will last longer and work more efficiently – all while helping to prevent costly repairs. Should it be time to replace your septic tank system, don’t hesitate to contact us with questions on [email protected] / 08 8444 8100.

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