Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: Learn How

Saving water and energy is a wise and eco-friendly move for your budget and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures offer an effective solution to lower water consumption without sacrificing performance. Learn about the perks of water-efficient fixtures, how they differ from older models and practical tips to conserve even more water in your daily routine.

How Much Water Do Low-Flow Fixtures Use?

Low-flow plumbing fixtures began picking up traction in the 1990s. The shift was particularly driven by increased awareness of water conservation issues and our environmental impact. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 established maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets in the United States, encouraging the prompt adoption of low-flow fixtures. This early framework paved the way for more efficient plumbing technologies designed for lowering water consumption while preserving performance.

Take into account how much water low-flow fixtures use compared to their traditional counterparts:

• Faucets: Old faucets run at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets lower to 1.5 gpm or less without weakening the water pressure.
• Showerheads: The previous standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow showerheads lower water consumption to 2.0 gpm or lower.
• Toilets: Old toilets can use up to a maximum of 7 gallons per flush (gpf). By comparison, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with some dual-flush models needing as few as 1.28 gpf.

The Technology for Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures take advantage of a few different ways to preserve performance while also cutting back on water. Here’s how they work:

• Aerators: A number of low-flow faucets and showerheads feature aerators, a component that mixes air with water to maintain pressure while still cutting down on the volume of water used.

• Flow restrictors: These devices restrict the amount of water that moves through the fixture without a noticeable drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: More low-flow designs have two flush controls—one for liquid waste using less water, and a larger flush for solid waste. This further controls water use based on need.

Four Advantages of Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

Switching to low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets provides benefits in numerous ways:

1. Less water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program has estimated that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by swapping the traditional faucets in your home with new, low-flow versions.
2. Cuts to monthly water bills: Low-flow fixtures can cut 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 starts to add up over time.
3. Also helps with water heating costs: Using less water to shower, cook and clean means you also use less hot water, which means another boost to your savings by reducing hot water costs.
4. Helping ensure a long plumbing system life span: Less water flow also reduces wear and tear on your plumbing system, potentially prolonging its life and reducing the need for repairs.

Tips on How You Can Save Even More Water

While low-flow fixtures have a significant impact on their own, you can go further to conserve water whenever you use them. Here are a few tips:

• Take brief showers: Even with low-flow showerheads, you still use more water when you stay in too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two preserves water and reduces energy use.
• Shut off the water when you brush your teeth: Only leave the tap running if you’re actively using it. If you step away from the sink or take a couple of minutes to actually brush your teeth, switch off the faucet so you aren’t wasting water.
• Use dual-flush toilets appropriately: The dual-flush design only helps you if everyone in your household knows the right way to use it it. Start with the half-flush button for liquid waste and only use the full flush for solid waste. Certain handle-flush toilets also have dual-flush designs. A quick flush uses less water, while keeping the handle depressed completes a full flush to wash away solid waste more efficiently.
• Don’t flush trash: Toilets are exclusively designed to remove toilet paper and human waste. Flushing other items needlessly wastes water and sharply increases the risk of clogs. Do your plumbing a favor by always throwing away facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and all other non-flushable products in the garbage.
• Fix leaks as soon as you can: Even low-flow fixtures can leak, wasting more water and hamstringing efficiency. Make an effort to regularly check for leaks and fix any you find to sustain your water conservation efforts.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Ready to lower your water usage and increase savings? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install efficient 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 quality products and services you deserve. As soon as you’re ready to install low-flow plumbing fixtures or would like more water conservation tips, please contact us today.