Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: Learn How

Saving water and energy is a smart and environmentally conscious decision for your budget and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures offer an excellent solution to reduce water consumption without compromising performance. Find out about the perks of low-flow fixtures, how they stack up against older models and useful suggestions to conserve even more water in your day-to-day life.

How Much Water Can Low-Flow Fixtures Use?

Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures initially gained widespread traction around the 1990s. The shift was particularly driven by heightened awareness of water conservation needs and our environmental impact. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 set maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets in the United States, promoting the public adoption of a new generation of low-flow plumbing fixtures. This legislation paved the way for more efficient plumbing technologies focused on reining in water consumption while retaining performance.

Think about how much water low-flow fixtures save compared to their older 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 compromising water pressure.
• Showerheads: The old standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow showerheads cut water usage to 2.0 gpm or lower.
• Toilets: Older toilets typically use up to 7 gallons per flush (gpf). On the other hand, 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 have a few different design options to preserve performance while using less water. Here’s how they can do so:

• Aerators: A number of low-flow faucets and showerheads utilize aerators, which mix air with water to retain pressure while still cutting down on the volume of water required.

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

• Dual-flush technology: Many low-flow toilets offer two flush controls—one for liquid waste using less water, and a larger flush 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 provides benefits in several ways:

1. Reduced water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program estimates that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by upgrading the existing faucets in your home with new, low-flow fixtures.
2. Cuts to monthly water bills: Low-flow fixtures help decrease your monthly utility bills by using less water. Indeed, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water whenever you shower, which starts to add up in the long run.
3. Also lowers water heating costs: Using less water to shower, cook and clean results in you using less hot water, which means another boost to your savings by reducing hot water costs.
4. Helping ensure a long plumbing system life span: Reduced water flow also reduces wear and tear on your plumbing system, hopefully prolonging its life and lowering the need for repairs.

Suggestions for Saving Even More Water

While these water-saving fixtures are highly effective on their own, you can go further to conserve water whenever you use them. Here are a few tips:

• Take shorter showers: Even if you own low-flow showerheads, you still waste a lot of water when you shower for too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two conserves water and lowers energy use.
• Turn off the water as you brush your teeth: Do your best to only leave the tap on if you’re actively using it. As soon as you leave the bathroom or spend the time to actually brush your teeth, turn off the faucet so you don’t waste water.
• Use dual-flush toilets efficiently: The dual-flush design only benefits you if everyone in your household understands how to use it it. Use the half-flush button for liquid waste and only press the full flush for solid waste. A few newer handle-flush toilets feature dual-flush designs. A quick flush uses less water, while holding down the handle empties the entire tank to remove solid waste more effectively.
• Don’t allow anyone to flush trash: Toilets are solely designed to handle toilet paper and human waste. Flushing any other materials always wastes water and increases the risk of a clog forming. Do your water bills a favor by only disposing of facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and feminine hygiene products in the trash.
• Take care of leaks right away: Even low-flow fixtures could eventually leak, wasting more water and lowering efficiency. Spend a few minutes every now and then checking for leaks and resolve any you find to limit any downtime to your water conservation efforts.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Ready to lower your water usage and save money? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install quality low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to encourage water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can rely on us to deliver the quality products and services you deserve. When you’re ready to upgrade your plumbing fixtures or would like more water conservation tips, please contact us today.