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The average American home utilizes about 300 gallons of water daily, 70 percent of which accounts for indoor water usage. If your plumbing system has defects, it may mean you will have to spend more money on settling your bills since you waste a substantial amount of water. Whenever you realize you are paying for water you are not using, it could mean that your plumbing system has leakages or your appliances do not have water-saving features. If this is you, talk to a plumber to get advice on which plumbing accessories need replacement with water-efficient ones and seek installation services while at it.
Additionally, if you are an environmental enthusiast, turning your plumbing system into an efficient one is one of the ideas you can implement in your home. Homeowners can have a glimpse of multiple water and energy-saving plumbing fixtures and fittings and how great they work to save on utilities, and here are some of them.
Tankless water heaters
Water heaters are considered the second-highest source of energy use in homes, and they account for about 18 percent of the total home energy usage. Some homeowners cannot do without hot water, especially during the cold winter seasons. Imagine the ice-cold water hitting your back during the cold winter season. You will probably not enjoy your shower, and that might prompt you to buy a water heater and seek installation services from a plumber. Well, being the second-highest energy consumers in homes, you might want to be on to look out to avert high energy bills.
It would be wise to seek advice from your local plumber and suppliers regarding tankless water heaters. That is because tankless water heaters are good energy and water savers. Other benefits of these heaters include an instant supply of hot water, eliminated repair and maintenance costs, and tax rebates upon purchase. Choose a tankless water heater for your water heating needs, and get a professional to fix it for you to avoid future malfunctions associated with poor installation.
High-efficiency showerheads
Showering is one of the activities on the daily schedule for home occupants since it contributes significantly towards making people look presentable and clean. In the US, showering accounts for a significant amount of the total water used indoors. Apart from the water factor, these appliances utilize electricity for water heating purposes. If you want to save water and energy resources as well as eliminate high utility bills, consider purchasing the low-flow cum energy-efficient showerheads and have a certified plumber handle the installation.
According to EPA, an average family can save up to 2700 gallons of water and an amount of electricity that can power a home for about 11 days each year if it embraces the high efficient showerheads. Worth noting is that these fixtures have aerators to reduce the amount of water flowing out.
Low flow and touchless faucets
Leaks are a notorious cause of water wastage in multiple homes in Fernandina, FL. Without even knowing it, your home might be wasting hundreds of gallons of water each day. That translates to thousands of dollars in utility bills every year. One of the causes of these leaks is the improper installation of faucets or having faulty ones. A plumber can help you reverse or prevent that problem by replacing the old fixtures with water-efficient faucets that have features such as aerators that minimize the quantity of water flowing out as well as motion sensors that enable the taps to open and close without touch.
Having a professional install energy-efficient bathroom faucets will help you save a sizable amount of water. Upgrade your standard plumbing fixtures to energy-efficient ones, and you will put a smile on your face once your monthly utility bill arrives. And with that, you will contribute to a happy planet by saving the world some trees.
Low and dual flush toilets
In any regular home, the toilet is among the places that water usage is high. And if you have multiple family members, each flush goes down with gallons of water. That is worse for houses with older inefficient toilets that consume quite an amount of water if compared to their efficient counterparts. That implies that a lot of water goes to waste, especially if you use the same amount of water to flush down the liquid and solid waste. Apart from costing you high water bills, these toilets can make you incur additional expenses in terms of getting your sewer emptied due to frequent fillups.
Thanks to modern technology and inventions, manufacturers have come up with low flow and dual flush toilets that have drastically reduced the amount of water to about 1.28 gallons per flush. That is 20 percent less than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush and much lower than the 6 gallons for older, inefficient water closets. With all these satisfying statistics, homeowners can rest with the assurance that the money they use to purchase efficient toilets and seek installation services from a plumber will be worthwhile in the long run due to a reduction in utility costs.
Hot water recirculation kits
Although not popular amongst some homeowners, hot water recirculation kits are essential devices that help minimize water heating and usage bills. They boost the time in which water takes to heat and are a suitable option for water heaters located relatively far from the pipes leading to showerheads and faucets. The devices can circulate water in the pipes back to the water heater for reheating. They are activated through automatic motion sensors or using a switch or button when it is time for releasing hot water in the bathroom or sanitary and kitchen sinks.
These hot water recirculation systems are available in plumbing stores. You can ask a plumber about the quality products and let them handle the installations. Otherwise, you may end up a victim of hot water burns if you decide to try the DIY method and have no one to blame but yourself. Needless to say, there is also the high cost of hospital care!
Get a seasoned plumber
Bert Norman’s Plumbing handles plumbing issues that homeowners in the area face. Our plumbers are available 24/7 to deliver emergency plumbing service. If you are a homeowner here or in the surrounding areas and need services such as installing energy and water-efficient plumbing accessories, reach us via a phone call, and we will be ready to serve you.