Whether you are customizing a new construction or want to make your existing home greener, water saving upgrades are always a good idea. Not only will you cut utility bills, but you will reduce wasting the precious commodity of freshwater. Here are some familiar and not-so-well-known upgrades to reduce water use in your home.
Use Aerators on Faucets
Your bathroom and kitchen faucets can waste water. Waste happens frequently if you leave the faucets running while brushing your teeth or soaping up your hands. However, using a faucet that does not have a low-flow aerator can also impact water use. An aerator is a small device that fits over the end of the faucet. It integrates air into the flow, preserving water pressure while using less water.
Use Instant Hot Water Dispensers
Instead of using energy to heat water on the stove or in an electric kettle, use an instant hot water dispenser. Because the heater sits under the faucet, you don’t have to run the water to wait for it to get hot. Plus, these water dispensers deliver food-safe heated water that you can drink or use for cooking. The hot water from your kitchen tap does not reach a high enough temperature to kill off bacteria that could sicken you.
Replace Old Water Appliances
The older your home is, the less water you will use with water saving upgrades. For instance, if your home has a construction date before 1992, it likely has a showerhead that delivers up to five gallons of water per minute. However, today’s low-flow showers provide high pressure and only use 1.6 gallons per minute. Making this switch could significantly reduce your water usage.
Swapping out your toilet as part of your water saving upgrades will also help. Newer models reduce water use by up to two-thirds. When you consider that flushing the toilet can account for a third of your home’s water consumption, this replacement will produce major results.
Install a Rain Barrel and Compost Bin
Rain barrels and compost bins are low-tech upgrades that you can add to your backyard to cut down on freshwater use. Rain barrels capture rainwater that you can use for watering your lawn and garden.
A compost bin turns your food waste into nutritious compost to feed your garden and enrich your soil. This bin will save your water use if you replace your garbage disposal with it. Garbage disposals require flowing water to wash the chopped food down the drain. However, your garden and the planet can both benefit when you choose to put your leftovers into a compost bin instead.
Let Plumbing Concepts Help You with Your Water Saving Upgrades
If you want to save water and reduce your impact on clean water supplies, contact us at Plumbing Concepts. Phone our office at 951.338.5878 for more information about having more water-efficient appliances installed. You can also reach out to us online.
