Go Back

Posted on July 31, 2015 by

How Low-Flow Fixtures Can Help You Save on Water

Tacoma PlumberHumans have sustained themselves with water from time immemorial. Biology tells us that our bodies need water to perform countless vital processes to keep us healthy. We also use water to wash off the dust of the day's labors, to prepare meals, and to rid us of our bodies' waste.

Water is a staple of any healthy civilization. In this age of bureaucracy and vast populations, water usage is tightly regulated, and your water bill reflects the volume of water you used in a given month.

Assuming you are a wise, thrifty consumer, you'll be interested to know that there are a few investments you can make to save significantly on your water bill. Enter the world of low-flow utilities.

Toilets with Low Flow

Unless you have access to an outhouse, chances are your residence features at least one toilet, and rightfully so. But your toilet may not be as water-efficient as it could be.

Before 1995, toilets sometimes used as much as 3.5 gallons of water per flush. The U.S. Department of Energy set a standard that now limits newer toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, a significant improvement.1 Equipping your home with low-flush toilets naturally results in a lower water bill.

Shower Heads

The U.S. Department of Energy has also set a standard for shower head flow: 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) or less. When shopping for shower heads, look for the most energy efficient.

Tacoma Fixture Installation ServiceLow-flow shower heads are generally either aerating (in which air is mixed with the water to create a mist) or laminar-flow (meaning the water flows in individual streams).2 If your shower head may pre-date 1992, you probably could stand to benefit from a new, low-flow shower head.

Faucets

Last, but certainly not least, the aerators attached to newer kitchen sink faucets generally restrict flow to 2.2 gpm, and newer bathroom faucet aerators vary, restricting flow from 1.5 to 0.5 gpm.

Aerators are inexpensive to replace, and can be one of the most efficient changes you can make to your faucets to lower your water bill.

If you think that any of your water fixtures may be out of date, ask a professional. It could result in significant savings on your next water bill.

Don’t delay. Give All Purpose Plumbing a call at (253) 473-5100 to save money and lower the carbon footprint of your Tacoma home without changing your busy lifestyle.