Professional Plumber Guide To Saving Water At Home | Irving, TX
It would interest you to know that an average family wastes up to 180 gallons a week from household leaks. Most homeowners don’t even know there is water wastage occurring in their homes. Other than your habits, inefficient appliances are also one of the main culprits of water wastage. It is important to learn how a plumber installs and uses efficient fixtures and appliances that can help you conserve water, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
What Are Efficient Fixtures and Appliances?
Companies such as ENERGY STAR and the Environmental Protection Agency have developed a WaterSense standard that facilitates water usage efficiency in homes, businesses, and yards. These include plumbing fixtures you normally use in your home, such as showerheads, bathroom sinks, and toilets.
Tips on How to Conserve Water in Your Home
Using Efficient Fixtures and Appliances in Your Home
- Toilet
Toilets installed in Irving, TX before 1993 use up to 2 gallons more water whenever you flush than any newer model. Newer and more efficient toilets use about 1.28 to 1.6 gallons for every flush. Dual-flush toilets also use much less water compared to regular toilets due to their unique flushing technique.
Some of the most efficient toilets include:
- Toto Drake II CST454CEFG
- American Standard Champion 4 Right Height
- Kohler K-3988-0Wellworth
2. Bathrooms
More than 15% of the water used indoors comes from faucets. By restricting flow, an average family can save up to 700 gallons of water yearly by restricting water flow. Often, a plumber may recommend a faucet with ceramic disc valves because it doesn’t rust or leak. Faucets can also be a design feature in your home, so finding the efficiency you want in a design you like is an added advantage. Some great water-saving models a plumbing professional would recommend include:
- WaterSense line from Moen
- Price-Pfister faucets such as Classic Centerset Bath Faucet and Kenzo Widespread Trough model
- Kohler WaterSense certified faucet
3. Shower Heads
About 17% of your indoor water use goes to showering. Showerheads designed before 1992 had a flow rate of 5.5 gpm. This flow rate has been significantly reduced to 2.5 gpm. WaterSense Showerheads flow rates range at about 2gpm or below. As you may probably learn from an expert plumber, aerating showerheads combine water flow with air to increase pressure which offers a sense of fullness.
Some low flow showerheads often recommended by a plumber include:
- Niagara N2915CH
- Kohler Moxie Rainhead
Outdoor Water Use
Out of the 29 billion gallons of water used by households in the US, about 9 billion gallons are used for outdoor purposes. To incorporate efficiency and water-saving tactics outdoors, here are a few tips from our expert plumbers:
- Incorporate a water-smart landscape that maximizes water efficiency while still offering curb appeal.
- Learn how much water allows you to keep your landscape healthy
- Consult a professional to install, maintain and review your irrigation system to ensure it is efficient
- Adopt a WaterSense labeled controller
- Instead of hosing your driveway, sidewalks, and steps, sweep them
- If you have a pool, cover it to reduce evaporation when it isn’t in use
Turn Off the Tap While Brushing Your Teeth
It is easy to leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or washing your hands. If you want to conserve more water in your Irving, TX home, turning off the tap when brushing your teeth and washing your hands is one of the most basic water-saving ideas. This can save you up to 20 liters of water a day.
Only Run the Dishwasher and Washing Machine When Full
Both your dishwasher and washing machine consume a large amount of water. The fewer times you run them, the less water and electricity they will consume. A great strategy would be to wait until the washing machine or dishwasher is completely full before running a cycle. Not only does this help save water, but it also helps these appliances run more efficiently.
Also, scraping your dishes instead of rinsing them off before loading can help increase your water conservation. Purchasing a newer model washer can also help reduce your water consumption by 40% compared to the older models.
Check for Leaks
Did you know that a leaking toilet could waste up to 100 gallons of water daily? A great way to manage the amount of water consumed in a flush is to ask a plumber to install a cistern displacement device in the cistern. Also, check your washers for any leaks and have a plumber plug them.
Capture Excess Shower Water
Normally, when you put on the shower, the water is cold. You are then likely to leave the water running until it becomes hot. However, instead of letting the cold-water runoff, you could use a bucket to save it and later use it to clean the house or water your plants. Properly insulating your pipes would also ensure your water stays hot for longer.
Stop Using Your Toilet as a Dustbin
Most people tend to flush all kinds of things down their toilets. This leads to frequent clogging and gallons of water getting wasted. Instead, keep a dustbin in your washroom and use it instead of dumping everything in the toilet.
Only Water Your Plants if Needed
Don’t water your plants simply out of habit. Take advantage of the rainy season and avoid overwatering your plants. Not only does it cause water wastage, but it also leads to a loss of valuable nutrients. Before watering your plants, first, check.
Consult Tioga Plumbing & Electric for Water Efficient Plumbing Upgrades
At Tioga Plumbing & Electric, we are the leading plumbers in Irving, TX. We specialize in plumbing installation and repairs. Our team is dedicated to helping you save water and energy. Each plumber is well trained and equipped to deal with any plumbing issue you may be facing. Contact us today for more information about our services and more tips on how to conserve.
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