Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: Learn How

Saving water and energy is a wise and responsible decision for your wallet and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures provide an ideal solution to lower water consumption without compromising performance. Learn about the perks of water-efficient fixtures, how they stack up against traditional models and effective strategies to conserve even more water in your daily routine.

How Much Water Can Low-Flow Fixtures Save?

Low-flow plumbing fixtures began picking up traction in the 1990s. The shift was particularly driven by heightened awareness of water conservation needs and our environmental impact. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets throughout the United States, supporting the widespread adoption of low-flow fixtures. This legislation helped establish more efficient faucets and showerheads focused on lowering water consumption while maintaining the same level performance.

Take into account how much water low-flow fixtures need compared to their traditional counterparts:

• Faucets: Old faucets run at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets lower to 1.5 gpm or less without reducing water pressure.
• Showerheads: The previous standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow designs for showerheads cut water usage to 2.0 gpm or less.
• Toilets: Older, inefficient toilets can use up to 7 gallons per flush (gpf). On the other hand, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with some dual-flush models needing as few as 1.28 gpf.

The Technology Enabling Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

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

• Aerators: A number of low-flow faucets and showerheads include aerators, mixing air with water to retain pressure while still cutting down on the volume of water needed.

• Flow restrictors: Faucets with these devices restrict the amount of water that moves through the fixture while preventing a significant drop in pressure.

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

Four Advantages of Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Installing low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets can benefit you in numerous ways:

1. Less water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program calculates that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by replacing the old faucets in your home with new, low-flow versions.
2. Slashing water bills: Low-flow fixtures lower your monthly utility bills by using less water. In fact, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water whenever you shower, which starts to add up in the long run.
3. Also lowers water heating costs: Using less water to shower, cook and clean results in you using less hot water, which increases your savings by reducing water heating costs.
4. Helping ensure a long plumbing system life span: Cuts to the water flow also reduces wear and tear on your plumbing system, potentially prolonging its life and reducing the need for repairs.

Suggestions to Save Even More Water

While low-flow fixtures have a significant impact on their own, you can take additional steps to conserve water every time you use them. Here are a handful of of the most common:

• Take brief showers: Even with low-flow showerheads, you can still waste water when you shower for too long. Shortening your shower time by a minute or two conserves water and reduces energy use.
• Turn off the water when you brush your teeth: Do your best to only leave the tap on if you’re actively using it. Once you step away from the sink or take the time to actually brush your teeth, turn off the faucet so you don’t waste water.
• Use dual-flush toilets efficiently: The dual-flush capability only works for you if everyone using that bathroom understands how to use it it. Use the half-flush button for liquid waste and only use the full flush for solid waste. A few newer handle-flush toilets also have dual-flush capabilities. A quick flush uses less water, while holding down the handle empties the entire tank to remove solid waste more effectively.
• Don’t allow anyone to flush trash: Toilets are only designed to handle toilet paper and human waste. Flushing any other materials needlessly wastes water and sharply increases the risk of a clog forming. Do your water bills a favor by only tossing facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and all other non-flushable products in the trash can.
• Fix leaks as soon as you can: Even low-flow fixtures could eventually leak, wasting water and lowering efficiency. Set aside some time now and then to check for leaks and address any you find to sustain your water conservation efforts.

Request a Free Quote for 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 promote water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust us to follow through on the promise of exceptional products and services you need. If you’re ready to upgrade your plumbing fixtures or would like more water conservation tips, please contact us today.