Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: This Is How

Saving water and energy is a smart and responsible move for your budget and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures provide an excellent solution to cut down on water consumption without sacrificing performance. Learn about the perks of water-efficient fixtures, how they compare to older models and practical tips to conserve even more water in your daily routine.

How Much Water Can Low-Flow Fixtures Use?

These more efficient plumbing fixtures began picking up traction around the 1990s. The movement was primarily driven by heightened awareness of water conservation concerns and our environmental footprint. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets across the United States, supporting the public adoption of low-flow fixtures. This early framework set the stage for more efficient fixture designs designed for reducing water consumption while retaining performance.

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

• Faucets: The conventional designs of most faucets run at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets reduce to 1.5 gpm or less without weakening the water pressure.
• Showerheads: The old standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow showerheads reduce water use to 2.0 gpm or less.
• Toilets: Old toilets typically use as many as 7 gallons per flush (gpf). On the other hand, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with some dual-flush models using as little as 1.28 gpf.

The Designs for Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures use several ways to preserve performance while using less water. Here’s how they achieve this:

• Aerators: Many low-flow faucets and showerheads utilize aerators, mixing air with water to preserve the water pressure while still reducing the volume of water needed.

• Flow restrictors: Faucets with these devices restrict the amount of water that flows through the fixture without a major drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: Some toilets offer 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

Trying low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets can benefit you in a number of ways:

1. Reduced water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program estimates that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by replacing the old faucets in your home with new, low-flow designs.
2. Smaller water bills: Low-flow fixtures help decrease 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 can really add up over time.
3. Also lowers water heating costs: Using less water for daily chores means you also use less hot water, which increases your savings by helping cut water heating costs.
4. Helping ensure a long plumbing system life span: Less water flow means less strain on your plumbing system, hopefully extending its life and decreasing the need for repairs.

Suggestions for Saving Even More Water

While low-flow fixtures make a big difference on their own, you can go further to conserve water each time you use the plumbing. Here are a few of the most common:

• Take shorter showers: Even if you own low-flow showerheads, you can still waste water when you shower for too long. Speeding up your shower time by a minute or two saves water and lowers energy use.
• Don’t waste water whenever you brush your teeth: Do your best to 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, shut off the faucet so you don’t waste water.
• Use dual-flush toilets properly: The dual-flush design 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. Certain handle-flush toilets feature dual-flush functionality. A quick flush uses less water, while holding down the handle completes a full flush to clear solid waste more thoroughly.
• Don’t flush trash: Toilets are solely designed to accommodate toilet paper and human waste. Flushing any other materials needlessly wastes water and increases the risk of a clog forming. Do your water bills a favor by only throwing away facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and feminine hygiene products in the garbage.
• Try and resolve leaks promptly: Even low-flow fixtures may leak, wasting more water and reducing efficiency. Set aside some time now and then to check for leaks and resolve any you find to maintain your water conservation efforts.

Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Interested in an easy way to lower your water usage and save money? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install efficient low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to support water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust us to follow through on the promise of superior products and services you deserve. As soon as you’re ready to ask about a free quote for installing low-flow plumbing fixtures or would like more water conservation tips, please contact us today.