We all want to save money and make a good investment. Some of us may even have a little in the stock market. If it goes up, we get excited; if it goes down, we start to worry. Our house is an investment. But, by taking it a step further, your home could significantly save water and electricity costs by installing WaterSense labeled appliances and fixtures, so below are a few solid plumbing tips. WaterSense is a program that’s part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its purpose is to encourage water efficiency. A product with the WaterSense label meets all the specifications of a water-efficient product.
According to some experts, completing a bathroom makeover by installing new WaterSense labeled faucets, toilets, and shower heads could pay for itself in one year.
Water Efficient Appliances and Fixtures
Did you know that homeowners can save as much as 20 percent by installing water-efficient appliances and fixtures such as water heaters and toilets? However, most homeowners don’t know that most water heaters manufactured today can save as much as 34% in energy over water heaters built ten years ago. Additionally, installing a tankless heater can save you even more.
Water Usage
Did you know that 38% of household water usage is from flushing our toilets? Make sure you have a toilet that uses 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). Before 1994 toilets consumed 3.5 gallons per flush. However, the latest toilet technologies can use as little as 1.1 GPF and 1.28 GPF. You can save even more by installing low-flow faucets and shower heads. Low-flow faucets and fixtures are not something new, and they have been quietly saving Americans water for more than two decades. The Energy Policy Act (EPAct), signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, established nationwide water efficiency standards for faucets, toilets, and showerheads. These requirements took effect in 1994. From that time, new toilets sold can not use more than 1.6 GPF; faucets are limited to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), and shower heads cannot use more than 2.5 GPM.
Reduce The Temperature On Your Water Heater
Lowering your water heater’s temperature by 10 degrees will save you roughly 5% in energy costs. Many water heaters were preset to 140 degrees by default, by decreasing it to 120 degrees can save you up to 10% on your heater’s energy output. Furthermore, putting your water heater in “vacation mode” when you are not home for more than a day can help you save even more on energy expenditures by reducing unnecessary heating.
Finally, drain your water heater annually. This will help your water heater operate more efficiently. Built-up sediment in your water heater will cause it to work overtime, especially if you live in California, where hard water is part of everyday life. Clearing the hard water sediment from your water heater means it will take less time to heat. It will also save on energy and extend the life of your heater.
Plumbing Tips: replace Inefficient Toilets
Energy-efficient toilets, sometimes referred to as low-flow toilets, are built to eliminate waste by employing water velocity rather than water volume. This means that energy-efficient toilets improve water velocity when flushed and consume only around 1.28 – 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) as opposed to traditional toilets used before 1992, which was 3.5 GPF.
How to Pick a Water-Saving Toilet
Choose a WaterSense labeled toilet guarantees the products fulfill water efficiency criteria, similar to ENERGY STAR® for appliances. The current federal toilet flushing guideline is 1.6 GPF. This federal standard was established in 1992; therefore, if you installed your toilet prior to that date, it most likely consumes 3.5 GPF to 7 GPF.
According to the Water Research Foundation report, the toilet flushing rate has remained constant: Every person flushed five times a day. Furthermore, according to the EPA, by installing low-flow toilets, you can cut toilet water usage by 20 to 60%, equating to roughly 13,000 gallons saved each year. If every household in the U.S. replaced their outdated and wasteful toilets with low-flow water-saving toilets, we would save approximately 520 billion gallons of water each year. That is the same quantity of water flowing over Niagara Falls every 12 days!
Most importantly, installing high-efficiency, low-flow toilets may save the average household up to $110 per year on their water bill and up to $2,200 over the lifetime of your toilets.
Plumbing Tips: Save On New Faucets and Shower Heads
Most of us can see saving water is not just about saving money 30 states or more are facing water shortages. Even if you don’t live in a water-stressed area, it’s in everyone’s best interest to conserve water because conserving water means we don’t have to heat as much water when washing clothes, dishes, and bathing.
Installing low-flow faucets and shower heads is a simple method to save money. Purchasing a low-flow aerator that attaches to the faucet can also reduce water usage. Showers and faucets consume roughly 23% of the water in an average U.S. home, more than toilets or laundry.
Low-flow faucets and shower heads are a worthy investment that starts at around 30 dollars and can cut your water consumption by 30% to 50%. Savings in water use and hot water heating can range from $50 to $90 or more per year simply by installing low-flow water-saving fixtures.
Did you know that a homeowner can save as much as $250 over a faucet’s lifetime in electricity and water costs by replacing their inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense labeled models?
Did you know that if you replaced your showerheads with WaterSense labeled models, you could save as much as $70 on electricity and water costs? Additionally, a family can save over 2,700 gallons of water a year.
Turn Off The Tap
More plumbing tips: Did you know that if you turn off the water while brushing your teeth, you can save 8 gallons of water per day, assuming you brush twice daily? Additionally, you can save 10 gallons per shave if you turn off the tap while shaving, assuming you shave five times a week. That’s a total of 5,700 gallons of water per year.
Big B’s Plumbing Is Ready To Help
If you feel it’s time to get retrofitted with new WaterSense-labeled faucets, toilets, and showerheads, Big B’s Plumbing has you covered. Our plumbing experts are ready to bring you the value and expertise you expect from a top-notch plumbing company.
