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

Saving water and energy is a wise and environmentally conscious decision for your finances and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures offer an effective solution to cut down on water consumption without sacrificing performance. Find out about the advantages of low-flow fixtures, how they stack up against older models and practical tips to conserve even more water in your day-to-day life.

How Much Water Will Low-Flow Fixtures Save?

Low-flow plumbing fixtures initially gained widespread traction around the 1990s. The movement was primarily driven by growing awareness of water conservation issues and our environmental footprint. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 established maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets across the United States, promoting the widespread adoption of low-flow fixtures. This legislation helped establish more efficient fixture designs aimed at lowering water consumption while preserving performance.

Consider how much water low-flow fixtures need compared to their conventional counterparts:

• Faucets: Old faucets flow at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets cut this down to 1.5 gpm or less without sacrificing water pressure.
• Showerheads: The industry standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow showerheads lower water consumption to 2.0 gpm or lower.
• Toilets: Older, inefficient toilets may use up to a maximum of 7 gallons per flush (gpf). In contrast, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with a number of dual-flush models using as little as 1.28 gpf.

The Technology Enabling Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures take advantage of a few different design options to maintain performance while also cutting back on water. Here’s how they achieve this:

• Aerators: Many low-flow faucets and showerheads include aerators, mixing air with water to maintain pressure while still lowering the volume of water used.

• Flow restrictors: Faucets with these devices control the amount of water that passes through the fixture while preventing a significant drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: Many low-flow toilets feature two flush buttons—one for liquid waste using less water, and one that’s larger for solid waste. This fine-tunes water use based on necessity.

Four Advantages of Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

Installing low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets provides benefits in a number of ways:

1. Reducing water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program calculates that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by swapping the traditional faucets in your home with new, low-flow fixtures.
2. Slashing water bills: Low-flow fixtures can cut your monthly utility bills by using less water. Indeed, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water whenever you shower, which adds up in the long run.
3. Also lowers water heating costs: Using less water for daily chores also means you use less hot water, which means another boost to your savings by reducing water heating costs.
4. A longer plumbing system life span: Cuts to the water flow also reduces wear and tear on your plumbing system, hopefully extending its life and reducing the need for repairs.

Suggestions to Save Even More Water

While these water-saving fixtures make a big difference on their own, you can take additional steps to conserve water whenever you use them. Here are a few tips:

• Take shorter showers: Even once you’ve installed low-flow showerheads, you still use more water if you shower for too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two preserves water and cuts energy use.
• Turn off the water as you brush your teeth: Only leave the tap running if you’re actively using it. If you leave the bathroom or take the time to actually brush your teeth, turn off the faucet to conserve water.
• Use dual-flush toilets properly: The dual-flush design only helps you if everyone at home understands how to use it it. Stick to the half-flush button for liquid waste and only select the full flush for solid waste. Certain handle-flush toilets also have dual-flush designs. A partial flush uses less water, while pressing and holding the handle empties the entire tank to clear solid waste more effectively.
• Never flush trash: Toilets are solely designed to accommodate toilet paper and human waste. Flushing other items needlessly wastes water and raises the risk of clogs. Do your local plumber a favor by always disposing of facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and similar products in the trash.
• Take care of leaks right away: Even low-flow fixtures can leak, wasting more water and reducing efficiency. Spend a few minutes every now and then checking for leaks and repair any you find to sustain your water conservation efforts.

Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Are you ready to reduce your water usage and increase savings? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install high-performance low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to encourage water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can depend on us to follow through on the promise of superior products and services you deserve. The moment you’re ready to install low-flow plumbing fixtures or just need a few more water conservation tips, please contact us today.