Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: Here’s How

Saving water and energy is a prudent and environmentally conscious choice for your wallet and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures present an excellent solution to reduce water consumption without sacrificing performance. Learn about the benefits of water-saving fixtures, how they differ from traditional models and practical tips to conserve even more water in your daily routine.

How Much Water Will Low-Flow Fixtures Use?

Low-flow plumbing fixtures initially gained widespread traction around the 1990s. The shift was largely driven by increased awareness of water conservation issues and our environmental footprint. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 required maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets throughout the United States, supporting the prompt adoption of a new generation of low-flow plumbing fixtures. This early framework set the stage for more efficient faucets and showerheads aimed at lowering water consumption while retaining performance.

Consider how much water low-flow fixtures use compared to their older counterparts:

• Faucets: Older faucets flow at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets reduce to 1.5 gpm or less without reducing water pressure.
• Showerheads: The industry standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow designs for showerheads cut water usage to 2.0 gpm or less.
• Toilets: Old toilets typically use up to a maximum of 7 gallons per flush (gpf). By comparison, 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 Enabling Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures use several design options to retain performance while also cutting back on water. Here’s how they achieve this:

• Aerators: A number of low-flow faucets and showerheads feature aerators, a component that mixes air with water to retain pressure while still lowering the volume of water used.

• Flow restrictors: Faucets with these devices control the amount of water that passes through the fixture without a significant drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: More low-flow designs have two flush buttons—one for liquid waste using less water, and a larger flush for solid waste. This optimizes water use based on necessity.

4 Benefits of Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures

Trying low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets enhances your plumbing’s efficiency in numerous ways:

1. Reduced water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program has said that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by swapping the traditional faucets in your home with new, low-flow fixtures.
2. Cuts to monthly water bills: Low-flow fixtures can cut your monthly utility bills by using less water. As a matter of fact, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water whenever you shower, which starts to add up over time.
3. Lower water heating costs: Using less water for daily chores also means you use less hot water, which means another boost to your savings by reducing water heating costs.
4. Helping ensure a long plumbing system life span: Cuts to the water flow means there’s a much smaller load on your plumbing system, hopefully extending its life and reducing the need for repairs.

Suggestions to Save Even More Water

While these water-saving fixtures have a significant impact on their own, you can go further to conserve water every time you use them. Here are a handful of tips:

• Take quicker showers: Even once you’ve installed low-flow showerheads, you can still waste water if you take too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two preserves water and cuts energy use.
• Shut off the water when you brush your teeth: Only leave the tap on if you’re actively using it. Once you leave the bathroom or take the time to actually brush your teeth, switch off the faucet so you don’t waste water.
• Use dual-flush toilets efficiently: The dual-flush capability only helps you if everyone using that bathroom knows the right way to use it it. Start with the half-flush button for liquid waste and only use the full flush for solid waste. A few newer handle-flush toilets feature dual-flush capabilities. A partial flush uses less water, while holding down the handle empties the entire tank to remove solid waste more effectively.
• Don’t flush trash: Toilets are solely designed to handle toilet paper and human waste. Flushing anything else always wastes water and increases the risk of a clog forming. Do your water bills a favor by only throwing away 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 hamstringing efficiency. Spend a few minutes every now and then checking for leaks and repair any you find to limit any downtime to your water conservation efforts.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Interested in an easy way to reduce your water usage and save more money at the same time? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install efficient low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to support water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust us to follow through on the promise of quality products and services you deserve. The moment you’re ready to ask about a free quote for installing low-flow plumbing fixtures or just need a few more water conservation tips, please contact us today.