If you’re on a mission to slash your monthly expenses, two expenditures likely on your list are your water and electric bills. Fortunately, there are many different plumbing upgrades you can invest in that can save you money on your water bill. Some even work to lower your electricity bill for optimal money savings.
Toilet Upgrades
One of the best places to start thinking about upgrading your plumbing is your toilets. If your toilets are over 40 years old, it’s likely they’re using more than 5 gallons for every flush. Standard toilets today use about 1.6 gallons per flush. You can further optimize your water savings by investing in a high-efficiency toilet that uses around 1.28 gallons per flush. This is a simple upgrade that can provide long-term water savings for decades to come.
Low-Flow Fixtures
Another great option for reducing your annual water consumption is low-flow fixtures. These are available in faucets and shower heads. They have integrated aerators that mix air with water coming out of the faucet or shower head. This helps to provide an adequate amount of pressure while reducing the amount of water that you’re using. Experts suggest homeowners can reduce their water consumption by 60% per fixture when upgrading to low-flow fixtures.
ENERGY STAR Appliances
Upgrading any appliance that uses water is a great dual-pronged approach to reducing both your energy and water bills. Look for appliances that have ENERGY STAR certifications, as these devices will use significantly less energy and water than standard appliances on the market. Consider upgrading your washing machine, dishwasher, and even your hot water heater.
Greywater Recycling
Wastewater that comes from your sinks and appliances is categorized as greywater. This water can easily be recycled for outdoor activities like irrigating your lawn, watering your garden, or even cleaning your car. By installing a greywater recycling system in your home, you can reduce your annual water consumption for all of the activities that we listed above.
Smart Irrigation System
If you rely on an irrigation system to keep your lawn looking great, it could be using a lot of water. One of the best upgrades you can do is to install a smart irrigation system that’ll better optimize your water usage. These systems have advanced technology, like leak detection sensors, and can integrate with local weather forecasts to adjust your watering schedule. This will reduce water waste through leaks and prevent overwatering your lawn during rainy days.
Tankless Water Heater
If you still rely on a traditional tank-style water heater, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Tankless water heaters use significantly less energy to provide you with an adequate amount of hot water for things like bathing and cleaning. These energy savings are a result of this water heater style only turning on whenever you demand hot water instead of constantly running to heat up water in its storage tank.
Hot Water Recirculation System
One of the most frustrating parts about your plumbing system is when you turn on your hot water and have to wait for it to warm up. While you’re waiting, you’re essentially wasting all that cold water. A great investment for your home is a hot water recirculation system. This system actively circulates water in your hot water lines through your water heater to ensure that it’s nice and hot whenever you turn on your faucet. This way, you don’t waste any water whenever you turn on your hot water.
Pressure-Reducing Valve
The water from your city’s water supply line is high pressure. Without a pressure-reducing valve, this high-pressure water can travel throughout your plumbing system and cause extensive wear and tear on its components. Furthermore, you’ll use more water when the pressure is higher. Installing a pressure-reducing valve is a great way to regulate the pressure of water in your plumbing system and reduce your overall consumption level.
Drip Irrigation
If you’re considering installing an irrigation system for your garden, a water-conscious choice is a drip irrigation system. Unlike traditional irrigation systems that broadcast water over a large area, drip irrigation uses a series of hoses with small holes for water to consistently drip out. This provides more direct water to the roots of your plants and minimizes water loss through runoff and evaporation. You’ll use significantly less water with a drip irrigation system as compared to using a traditional garden sprinkler irrigation system.
Smart Leak Detection System
Another great investment for your home is a smart leak detection system. This uses a series of sensors that you place under sinks, near shower values, and next to your water-using appliances. These smart sensors actively work to detect when there’s a leak coming from your plumbing system. Smart leak detection systems also come with automatic shut-off valves. This allows the system to kill the water supply to any location where a leak is detected. This is great for catching even the smallest leaks so you can repair them instead of wasting water.
Motion-Sensor Faucets
Another water-saving fixture that can lower your water bills is motion-sensor faucets. These have an integrated sensor eye that detects when there’s movement under the faucet. When movement is detected, the faucet will turn on. However, whenever the movement is gone, the faucet automatically shuts off the water. This will save water during activities like brushing your teeth where you don’t need a constant supply of water, and it’s super inconvenient to shut it off manually.
Solar Hot Water Heater
One option that can reduce your energy bills is a solar hot water heater. This will use photovoltaic solar panels to absorb energy from the sun and power your hot water heater throughout the daytime hours. This can do wonders for significantly reducing your energy bill for your hot water heater.
Eco-Friendly Upgrades
While all the upgrades we covered above are great for lowering your water consumption, there are also some plumbing upgrades you can do to be more eco-friendly. A great upgrade to consider is a water softener system. This removes minerals from your water to prevent the effects that hard water can have on your home. Hard water can prematurely deteriorate all your plumbing fixtures and drastically shorten their lifespan. It can also increase your energy bills for your water heater as hard water takes more energy to heat up than soft water.
When upgrading plumbing fixtures like your faucets, shower heads, and valves, it can be helpful to think about longevity. Certain materials are going to last much longer, resulting in much less waste. Some of the longest-lasting materials are going to be brass, stainless steel, and copper. When it comes to sinks and bathtubs, porcelain and cast iron are the longest-lasting products on the market.
Reliable Plumbing Installation Service
All Klear offers reliable plumbing installation service for the Springfield, MO area. We can also assist with all your plumbing replacement, repair, and maintenance needs. Simply call our friendly office staff today to schedule your next service appointment, like a plumbing fixture replacement, with one of our plumbing professionals.
