Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: Here’s How

Saving water and energy is a wise and eco-friendly decision for your finances and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures provide an effective solution to cut down on water consumption without sacrificing performance. Discover the advantages of low-flow fixtures, how they compare to traditional models and useful suggestions to conserve even more water in your daily routine.

How Much Water Will Low-Flow Fixtures Save?

Low-flow plumbing fixtures began picking up traction around the 1990s. The popularity was primarily driven by growing awareness of water conservation concerns and our environmental impact. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets across the United States, encouraging the prompt adoption of a new generation of low-flow plumbing fixtures. This early framework set the stage for more efficient faucets and showerheads designed for reducing water consumption while preserving performance.

Think about how much water low-flow fixtures use compared to their traditional counterparts:

• Faucets: Older faucets flow at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets reduce to 1.5 gpm or less without compromising water pressure.
• Showerheads: The old standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Today’s showerheads reduce water use to 2.0 gpm or lower.
• Toilets: Older toilets may use up to a maximum of 7 gallons per flush (gpf). On the other hand, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with some dual-flush models with averages as low as 1.28 gpf.

The Designs Behind Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures take advantage of a few different design options to preserve performance while using less water. Here’s how they can do so:

• Aerators: Lots of low-flow faucets and showerheads include aerators, a component that mixes air with water to retain pressure while still reducing the volume of water required.

• Flow restrictors: These devices limit the amount of water that passes through the fixture without a major drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: More low-flow designs have two flush options—one for liquid waste using less water, and a fuller flush for solid waste. This optimizes water use based on necessity.

Four Advantages of Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures

Switching to low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets enhances your plumbing’s efficiency in several ways:

1. Less water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program has said that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by replacing the traditional faucets in your home with new, low-flow fixtures.
2. Slashing water bills: Low-flow fixtures lower your monthly utility bills by using less water. In fact, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water every time you shower, which adds up in the long run.
3. Also lowers water heating costs: Using less water to shower, cook and clean means you also use less hot water, which increases your savings by reducing hot water costs.
4. Longer plumbing system life span: Cuts to the water flow also reduces wear and tear on your plumbing system, potentially lengthening its life and lowering the need for repairs.

Suggestions for Saving Even More Water

While these water-saving fixtures make a big difference by themselves, you can take additional steps to conserve water each time you use the plumbing. Here are some tips:

• Take quicker showers: Even if you own low-flow showerheads, you still use more water when you stay in too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two saves water and reduces energy use.
• Shut off the water whenever you brush your teeth: Only leave the tap running if you’re actively using it. As soon as you step away from the sink or spend a couple of minutes to actually brush your teeth, switch off the faucet to conserve water.
• Use dual-flush toilets properly: The dual-flush feature only helps you if everyone using that bathroom knows the right way to use it it. Stick to the half-flush button for liquid waste and only press the full flush for solid waste. Some handle-flush toilets now have dual-flush capabilities. A partial flush uses less water, while holding down the handle completes a full flush to clear solid waste more effectively.
• Never flush trash: Toilets are only designed to remove toilet paper and human waste. Flushing other items needlessly wastes water and increases the risk of a clog forming. Do your local plumber a favor by only throwing away facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and similar products in the trash can.
• Try and resolve leaks as soon as you can: Even low-flow fixtures could eventually leak, wasting water and reducing efficiency. Spend a few minutes every now and then checking for leaks and fix any you find to sustain your water conservation efforts.

Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Ready to cut your water usage and save more money at the same time? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install high-performance low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to promote water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can depend on us to follow through on the promise of exceptional products and services you deserve. As soon as you’re ready to upgrade your plumbing fixtures or would like more water conservation tips, please contact us today.