Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: This Is How

Saving water and energy is a smart and responsible choice for your wallet and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures offer an excellent solution to cut down on water consumption without losing performance. Find out about the perks of water-saving fixtures, how they compare to previous models and effective strategies to conserve even more water in your everyday habits.

How Much Water Can Low-Flow Fixtures Save?

Low-flow plumbing fixtures initially gained widespread traction around the 1990s. The shift was primarily driven by growing awareness of water conservation issues and our environmental footprint. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 established maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets across the United Provinces, supporting the widespread adoption of a new generation of low-flow plumbing fixtures. This early framework helped establish more efficient plumbing technologies aimed at reducing water consumption while maintaining the same level performance.

Think about how much water low-flow fixtures save compared to their conventional counterparts:

• Faucets: Older faucets run at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets reduce to 1.5 gpm or less without sacrificing water pressure.
• Showerheads: The old standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow showerheads lower water consumption to 2.0 gpm or lower.
• Toilets: Older, inefficient toilets typically use as many as 7 gallons per flush (gpf). In contrast, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with a number of dual-flush models using as little as 1.28 gpf.

The Technology for Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures take advantage of a few different design options to preserve performance while using less water. Here’s how they achieve this:

• Aerators: Lots of low-flow faucets and showerheads include aerators, which mix air with water to preserve the water pressure while still cutting down on the volume of water required.

• Flow restrictors: These devices control the amount of water that moves through the fixture while preventing a major drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: Some toilets offer two flush buttons—one for liquid waste using less water, and a fuller flush for solid waste. This further controls water use based on necessity.

4 Benefits of Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures

Trying low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets provides benefits in a number of ways:

1. Reducing water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program calculates that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by replacing the existing faucets in your home with new, low-flow fixtures.
2. Cuts to monthly water bills: Low-flow fixtures help decrease your monthly utility bills by using less water. In fact, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water every time you shower, which adds up over time.
3. Also lowers water heating costs: Using less water for daily chores results in you using less hot water, which further increases your savings by lowering water heating costs.
4. Longer plumbing system life span: Less water flow also reduces wear and tear on your plumbing system, potentially lengthening its life and lowering the need for repairs.

Suggestions to Save Even More Water

While these water-saving fixtures have a significant impact on their own, you can take additional steps to conserve water every time you use the plumbing. Here are some useful suggestions:

• Take shorter showers: Even with low-flow showerheads, you can still waste water when you shower for too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two conserves water and limits energy use.
• Shut off the water when you brush your teeth: Do your best to only leave the tap running if you’re actively using it. Once you step away from the sink or take a couple of minutes to actually brush your teeth, turn off the faucet to conserve water.
• Use dual-flush toilets appropriately: The dual-flush capability only benefits you if everyone using that bathroom knows the right way to use it it. Stick to the half-flush button for liquid waste and only use the full flush for solid waste. Certain handle-flush toilets feature dual-flush designs. A partial flush uses less water, while pressing and holding the handle empties the entire tank to clear solid waste more thoroughly.
• Don’t flush trash: Toilets are only designed to remove toilet paper and human waste. Flushing anything else needlessly wastes water and raises the risk of clogs. Do your plumbing a favor by only tossing facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and all other non-flushable products in the trash.
• Try and resolve leaks as soon as you can: Even low-flow fixtures may leak, wasting more water and reducing efficiency. Spend a few minutes every now and then checking for leaks and resolve any you find to sustain your water conservation efforts.

Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Interested in an easy way to lower your water usage and save money? Rob's Albertan Service Experts is here to help! We install efficient low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to promote water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can rely on us to deliver the superior products and services you need. If you’re ready to install low-flow plumbing fixtures or just need a few more water conservation tips, please contact us today.