Upgrade Your Home’s Plumbing Fixtures to Save Water and Money
Whether you want to help save the environment, reduce your water bills, or comply with California’s water standards, you can do all three by switching out your home’s plumbing fixtures for WaterSense-labeled products.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s program, WaterSense, seeks to promote the value of water efficiency, while offering resources for consumers to save water. The EPA awards certain products and services with the WaterSense label that have been proven to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing the product’s performance. By upgrading the plumbing fixtures in your home, you could save thousands of gallons of water each year.
To help you save water and improve the efficiency of your home’s plumbing, here are some of the most effective plumbing fixtures for your home.
Toilets
With older toilets using up to 7 gallons of water per flush, toilets are often the worst water consumption offenders in the home. The most recent federal plumbing standards state that new toilets must use less than 1.6 gallons per flush. Here are three of the most water-efficient types of toilets on the market today.
High-Efficiency Toilets
High-efficiency toilets or ultra-high-efficiency toilets are specially designed to use less than 1.6 gallons of water, with many toilets using close to 1.28 gallons per flush. Depending on the age or efficiency of your current toilets, you could use 20 to 60 percent less water after making the switch.
Dual-Flush Toilets
Dual-flush toilets feature two different flushing options, depending on your needs. Many dual-flush toilets use only about 1 gallon of water for liquid waste and approximately 1.6 gallons for solid waste. You’ll save water by only using the amount of water you need each time.
Composting Toilets
Composting toilets consist of two parts: an above-ground unit for sitting on and a collection or composting unit. Using little-to-no water, composting toilets can help you reduce your environmental impact, and they can be useful for fertilizing your land.
Showerheads
Typically, showerheads use an average of 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Water-efficient showerheads that have been given the WaterSense label use 2 gallons or less per minute. While you could shorten your showers to save water, these showerheads allow you to save water without changing your habits.
High-Efficiency and Ultra-Low-Flow Showerheads
Whether you enjoy a steady stream or water or a more distributed flow, you can find a showerhead that helps you save water and enjoy your showers. Available in price ranges to meet any budget and with a variety of features like detachable showerheads, you’ll be able to find a great showerhead almost anywhere.
Faucets
In 2015, California imposed new standards on water-efficient plumbing fixtures, including faucets. New bathroom faucets should use 1.2 gallons per minute or less, while kitchen faucets should use 1.8 gallons per minute or less. With a new faucet installation, you could save hundreds of gallons of water per year in your home.
High-Efficiency Faucets and Accessories
By choosing WaterSense-labeled faucets and faucet accessories, you’ll be able to save water every time you turn on the tap. These plumbing fixtures are specially designed to help you reduce your environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
Want More Plumbing Tips and Advice?
Contact the plumbing experts at Stephens Plumbing for more information on how you can save water, prevent plumbing emergencies, and more. Click below to learn more about our various plumbing services.
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