The beginning of the year is a great time to set goals for self-improvement but what about home improvement? Even making a small change such as upgrading to a few energy efficient plumbing fixtures can make big differences in your home’s energy and water usage in addition to its aesthetics.
Installing eco-friendly plumbing fixtures is an excellent plumbing upgrade for the New Year that will help save you money. At Rick’s Plumbing, you can rely on our trusted plumbing fixture installation and replacement service if you’re due for an upgrade. Our experienced plumbers are knowledgeable about today’s high efficiency plumbing fixtures and are happy to help decide which upgrades are best for your needs.
Ready to make some changes for the New Year? Consider these plumbing upgrades!
For your bathroom
According to water usage statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American household uses more than 300 gallons of water per day. You can cut this amount in half by upgrading to energy efficient plumbing fixtures. This is especially important in the bathroom where water is most likely to be wasted. Low flow showerheads can reduce shower water usage by an impressive 70% without compromising on pressure. High efficiency faucets and low flush toilets also use much less later than their outdated counterparts. Ultra-high efficiency plumbing fixtures featuring the WaterSense label have met the EPA’s rigid guidelines for water conservation and performance and use even less water than standard water saving fixtures.
For your kitchen
For the average four person household, kitchen faucet water usage can account for as much as 15% to 18% of the overall water usage, so why not upgrade to a high efficiency faucet? Not only are they stylish, but high efficiency kitchen faucets with flow rates of 2.2 to 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) can dramatically reduce the amount of water your home uses. An affordable and simple way to improve faucet efficiency is to replace the small screen screwed onto the end of the faucet, which is known as the aerator. Though garbage disposals only use little energy, you should still consider upgrading or replacing it as it nears the 10 to 12 year mark. Older and damaged garbage disposals can lead to plumbing problems.
For the rest of your home
Is it time for a new, more efficient water heater? If so, consider tankless water heaters which never run out of hot water and are exceptionally energy efficient. Is water quality a concern for you? A whole house water filter ensures pure, filtered water comes from every water source in your home. If you live in a flood prone area, upgrading to a battery backup sump pump is a great way to safeguard your home against water damage even if the power is out.
Let the experts at Rick’s Plumbing assist you will all your plumbing upgrade needs!