How to Lower Your Water Bill with Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

Ready to lower your water bill? If you switch to water-efficient plumbing, it’s not as impossible as it sounds, regardless of how many people are in your family or how many showers they take daily. It is possible to save money on your water bill by following these tips about installing water-efficient plumbing.

Tip #1: Switch to WaterSense

WaterSense is a partnership program of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to decrease water usage in the U.S. by promoting water efficiency. All brands of plumbing fixtures are eligible to qualify for this label but they must meet certain standards. Any time you see the WaterSense label on products you can be sure that the product:

• Performs as well or better than current models

• Is 20 percent more efficient

• Saves water

Tip #2: Use Water-Efficient Toilets

What uses the most water in your home? Your toilet. You can save almost 13,000 gallons of water by installing a new toilet that has the WaterSense label. If every home in the U.S. used these water-efficient toilets, water usage in the U.S. would decrease greatly.

Tip #3: Use Water-Efficient Bathroom Faucets

In 1992, bathroom faucets used three to seven gallons per minute (gpm). Now, new WaterSense faucets use an average of 2.2 gpm. Combine that average amount with an estimated 17 million bathroom faucets sold, and that’s a lot of water being saved. This is not only good for your budget, but good for the environment too.

Tip #4: Use Water-Efficient Showerheads

You want to save on your water bill, but nobody wants to take a shower with just a trickle of water. That won't happen with water-efficient showerheads. You're guaranteed to have an equal or better shower experience with a WaterSense labeled product. So, you can save gallons of water each year and still have a great shower.

Get Started Lowering Your Water Bill

If you would like to get started lowering your water bill, call Air Assurance. We’ll show you the best water efficient plumbing products that can save you the most money.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “milo827/Shutterstock”

Is Your Home's Plumbing Ready for an Upgrade?

Generally, a home's plumbing system doesn't get much attention until age-related issues start to crop up. To prevent the headaches, stress and high cost of extensive and unexpected water damage, it's important to know the warning signs that can tell you a home plumbing upgrade is due.

Key Indicators of Future Plumbing Problems

If you recognize any of these telltale signs that plumbing issues are headed your way in the near future, it's wise to investigate your upgrade options now:

• Galvanized pipes: Your galvanized pipes can appear in excellent condition since the outside is treated to resist corrosion. If you've been having frequent water line blockages and experiencing reduced flow at the faucets, your pipes may be in a serious state of decay on the inside, which isn't treated.

• Mixed pipe materials: If a previous owner had some of the original galvanized pipes in your home replaced with copper and the installation wasn't done properly, your plumbing system is a ticking time bomb. Galvanized steel and copper aren't compatible, and if dielectric unions weren't used to separate the two metals, the resulting chemical reaction speeds up the rate of corrosion.

• Plumbing system age. The materials used in older residential plumbing systems have an average life span of about 60 years. If your home is around that age and you're not certain if the plumbing was updated in the recent past, it's wise to schedule an inspection and talk to a licensed plumber about an upgrade before problems develop.

• Evidence of deterioration: To catch problems early, it's important to perform a periodic check of all accessible pipes in your home. Look for dried or fresh stains from water leaks around the pipes and dimpling, flaking or discoloration on the metal. Take a close look at the color of your water too. If it's yellowish-brown, it likely contains rust from corroding pipes. Other signs that point to decay are an increasing number of plumbing leaks and clogs that need repair.

To learn whether you're in need of a home plumbing upgrade, contact the Broken Arrow plumbing pros at Air Assurance today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “valdis torms/Shutterstock”