5 Ways New Plumbing Fixtures Save Water Around the Home

1. Toilets

Older toilets use a lot of water. Once study concluded that if all the older, inefficient toilets in the US were replaced with newer, water-efficient models around 360 billion gallons of water could be saved every year. If your toilet was manufactured before the mid-1990s there’s a good chance its wasting a lot of water. If you’re concerned about the effectiveness of newer water efficient toilets, rest assured, most are rated highly and work well.

Another way to save water with every flush is to install “dual-flush” models. With two options for flush strength you can decide the amount of water that is needed.

2. Faucets

The EPA estimates that faucets account for 15% of indoor water use. By selecting a faucet with the WaterSense® certification you can reduce the water by at least 20 percent. You can also make most existing faucets more efficient by adding a water saving aerator.

3. Shower Heads

Depending on how inefficient your current shower head it, swapping it for a low-flow shower head can cut water use by 50% or more. The standard for low flow heads is 2.5 gpm at 80 psi. A high quality low flow shower head will offer good pressure at both high and low water pressures. Some have flow restrictors that allow you to adjust the spray pattern and pressure to achieve the right amount of water flow for your needs.

4. Tankless Water Heaters

While tankless water heaters won’t save a large amount of water compared to tank-style water heaters, they can save water by reducing the amount of time for hot water to be available. Their primary benefit is the energy savings they offer by only heating water when it’s needed, not an entire tank.

5. Rain Sensors

Lawn and landscape watering are extremely water-intensive. In many cities, rain or moisture sensors are required to prevent irrigation lines and underground lawn sprinklers from over watering lawns.