Plumbing Upgrades That Help With Water Conservation – The opinions expressed by the author in this and all guest blogs are not necessarily those of Gainesville Restoration and Remodeling.
Plumbing Upgrades That Help With Water Conservation
While it seems like there is an infinite water supply on the planet, this is not the case. Water is a precious and finite resource and must be used wisely.
Most homeowners conserve water by turning off the tap when not in use, taking shorter showers, fixing overflowing kitchen sinks, checking for pipe leaks, etc.
While all the methods mentioned above work, water conservation efforts at home should not stop there. Fortunately, reducing water consumption has become much easier with so many innovations in water conservation technology and plumbing fixtures.
To help with your water conservation efforts, below are some of the plumbing upgrades you should consider:
Pressure-Reducing Valves
Most of the wastewater at home is caused by excessive water pressure in your pipes. While 70 psi is considered the standard pressure for plumbing systems, 35 psi would often suffice.
Pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) allow homeowners to control the pressure that goes into the pipes. Have your plumber check your water pressure and install a PRV if needed. PRVs can also help prolong the life of your pipes.
Low-Flow Shower Heads
Obsolete shower heads can be a massive source of water waste, just like old toilets. Most shower heads consume 2.5 liters every minute. If you switch to a low-flow model, you can reduce water consumption by as much as 40% without compromising performance and water pressure.
There are two low-flow shower heads to choose from—aerating and non-aerating. Aside from helping reduce water consumption, low-flow shower heads can also help lessen your energy usage, as you will need less hot water when you shower.
High-Efficiency Toilets
If you want to renovate your bathroom, consider fitting them with low-flow and high-efficiency toilets. Low-flow toilets will use 20 to 60 percent less water than standard models. The average family can save as much as 80 liters of water annually when they use low-flow toilets.
Another option you can look into is the dual-flush toilet. Amazingly, they use even less water than the low-flow ones. Dual-flush toilets come with two buttons, so the user can pick between two flush amounts, depending on the waste. While they cost more, they can also help you save more.
Hot Water Recirculating Systems
Hot water recirculating systems send hot water to the faucet or shower on demand. They can also deliver hot water way faster than water heaters. Hot water recirculating systems can help ensure you won’t waste cold water while waiting for it to get hot.
The technology has been around for many years but is mostly used by hotels and buildings. Fortunately, newer versions are already suitable for use in residential settings. Having one installed might also qualify homeowners for a tax break, depending on the laws of the state they live in.
Green Sprinkler System
In the United States, inefficient landscape irrigation is considered one of the top contributors to water waste. Because of this, automated sprinkler systems are recommended instead of conventional manual models. The automated type can water the garden or lawn at night when water is less likely to evaporate.
Most automated water sprinklers have a timer to turn off the misting system after a specific time. The more sophisticated variety has other amazing features, like a weather-monitoring function, which offers high quality outdoor misting. Advanced models can predict precipitation levels and will only disperse water when needed.
Final Thoughts
Switching to the plumbing fixtures mentioned above will save you money and help you conserve clean and fresh water. While these modifications can cost money, you will eventually save in the long run as you will use less energy and water.
About the author
Rachel Watson is the Senior Content Editor of Precision Air & Plumbing, a full-service HVAC, plumbing, and home performance contractor operating in Chandler, Arizona. Rachel enjoys yoga and writing articles about how to make home living more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.