Plumbing Upgrades and Changes to Increase Water Efficiency in Your Home
Posted on: 23 March 2021
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An important aspect of environmental sustainability is reducing domestic water wastage. Besides conserving the environment, water efficiency can lower your annual utility costs. The first step to actualising this plan is making changes to your domestic plumbing system. Upgrading a few fixtures and changing your consumption habits can reduce water wastage in your home. With this in mind, here are a few plumbing upgrades and changes to consider.
Upgrade your plumbing fixtures
Some traditional plumbing fixtures can waste a lot of water. Older faucets use over five gallons per minute, while traditional toilets require around five gallons per flush. Replacing such plumbing fixtures can significantly lower the water consumption in your home. Invest in water-efficient faucets, which use around 3 gallons of water per minute. Replace older toilets with modern dual-flush and low-flush toilets that use around 1.5 gallons of water per flush.
Install a greywater system
According to research, around 40% of the water in Australia households is used outdoors. If you have a lawn or do any gardening, you probably use a lot of water to keep your grass lush and flowers healthy. You can reduce this consumption by installing a greywater system. Greywater systems recycle the water used in the bath and laundry and direct it to the lawn. When installing a greywater system, invest in treatment solutions as well. Treated greywater can be used to water not only lawns and flowers but also vegetable gardens. You can also use it to flush your toilets.
Insulate your hot water system
Uninsulated hot water systems can contribute to water wastage in the home. The initial flow is usually cold due to the loss of heat to the surroundings. As a result, users let showers and faucets run for a few seconds to allow the water to warm up. This habit can lead to significant water wastage every day. You can avoid this by insulating your hot water system.
Invest in pipe and tank insulation. Insulation maintains the temperature of water in your pipes, eliminating that initial flow of cold water. If you are thinking about replacing your current water heater, go for a tankless or instant one. Tankless heaters provide hot water instantly; thus, there's minimal wastage in the showers and other access points.
Stay on top of plumbing maintenance
Poor plumbing increases the risk of leaks, which contributes to significant water wastage. Unseen leaks in indoor pipes, water mains, and outdoor plumbing can increase your consumption. Stay on top of plumbing maintenance by repairing leaks when they occur. Occasionally employ advanced leak detection technologies to locate unseen leaks in your plumbing system. Winterise your pipes to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting.
Consider the above changes and upgrades to increase water efficiency in your home. Contact a plumber for installation and maintenance services, or contact a local plumbing service, like Martech Plumbing PTY LTD.