When you own a home, you are constantly looking for ways to save money. You follow family members around and turn off the lights. Thermostats are regulated, making sure they are running efficiently. However, one thing that is often overlooked is the ability to save water. You might think that your dishwasher or your washer uses the most water in your house. The real culprit is your bathroom. If you are planning to remodel, now is the time to purchase items that assist with water conservation.
Water-Saving Habits
Before dropping money on new fixtures, you will want to start changing your water usage habits. Living with children, you probably have already seen the water left on while brushing teeth or washing hands. Turning the water off when you are not actively using it and then turning it back on to rinse can save hundreds of gallons a week. When it comes to bath time, plug the tub before you start running water and adjust the temperature as it fills. Showers should be limited to five to ten minutes. While short showers are not always possible, the more you shorten the shower, the more water you will save.
Check for Leaks
Another step to take before your remodel is to check for leaks that could be hiding in your bathroom. Many people only think about problems in their pipes when they have a dripping faucet, water pooling under their sink, or damp spots around the toilet. However, your toilet could be slowly draining without making much noise. Place food coloring in the tank of your toilet and watch for any color change in the bowl. Calling a plumber to run routine checks throughout the year for maintenance can save gallons of water a day.
Water-Saving Fixtures
Once you are done repairing the leaks, you are ready to shop for water-saving fixtures. Victoria Plum is one of the best places online to find products that are energy and water efficient. They have faucets, showerheads, and toilets that meet government regulations for water conservation. The following are some of the strict policies they must meet to be qualified as eco-friendly.
- Showerheads – use less than two gallons of water per minute.
- Faucets – use less than 1.5 gallons per minute, a 30-percent reduction from standard faucets.
- Toilets – use less than 1.3 gallons per flush.
It is important to note that toilets have changed over the years to become more water-efficient, as they used to use over three gallons of water per flush in the 1980s and earlier. Starting in 1992, they reduced to a gallon and a half per flush. Therefore, water-efficient toilets save just a little more, which will add up throughout the day. You can also find toilets that will have an option to do a half flush instead of the entire cycle.
Making a few changes in your daily habits and switching to eco-friendly products will help lower bills and the environment. Always check for regulations your city or state may have implemented to ensure you are compliant with the code.