These days, many homeowners are looking over their bills and trying to figure out where they can reduce them. One thing that you may want to consider is upgrading parts of your plumbing system in Wausau, WI. By choosing water-efficient and energy-efficient features like the ones we discuss here, you can help to reduce both your energy consumption and your water bills.
Low-Flow Fixtures
A really great and affordable way to help lower your water bill is to use low-flow plumbing fixtures like faucets and showerheads. They have an integrated aeration system that mixes air with the water coming out of the faucet to reduce your water usage while still sustaining the same amount of pressure. For example, a low-flow showerhead will reduce your water consumption from about 2.5 gallons per minute to around 1.5 gallons per minute.
High-Efficiency Toilets
Another great option to consider is upgrading your toilets. If your toilet is over 40 years old, it’s likely that it can use up to 7 gallons per flush. Newer toilets use around 1.6 gallons. There are high-efficiency models that use around 1.28 gallons per flush and you can even opt for a dual-flush toilet that gives you the option to use different water amounts depending on whether you’re flushing liquid or solid waste.
Tankless Water Heaters
Another thing to consider for lowering your energy bills is your water heater. Upgrading to a tankless water heater can save you around 30% to 40% of the total annual cost of running your tank-style water heater. A tankless water heater also comes with many great benefits like a longer lifespan, a compact design, and an endless supply of hot water.
Hot Water Recirculation Pumps
One of the most annoying parts of your plumbing system may be waiting for hot water to arrive at your faucet. Depending on how far your hot water heater may be from that actual faucet, it could take anywhere from a couple of seconds all the way up to 30 seconds to get hot water.
Most of us will let the cold water run until it gets warm, essentially wasting it. Installing a hot water recirculation system is a great way to help ensure that the water in all your hot water lines is hot. This way, when you turn on your hot water faucet, you enjoy instant hot water and reduce waste.
Graywater Recycling
If you have an outside garden or you irrigate your lawn, an innovative way to reduce your water consumption is to recycle the graywater from your home. Graywater is what comes out of your sinks, appliances, and showers. This water is safe to reuse for irrigation outdoors. When you use your graywater outdoors, you don’t have to waste fresh water coming from your home to water your garden or your lawn.
Smart Leak Detection Systems
Nowadays, smart technology is being integrated into various plumbing setups to optimize convenience and safety for homeowners. One system you may want to consider investing in is a smart leak detection system. This consists of multiple sensors placed underneath your sinks and near your water-using appliances to help detect if a leak develops.
This system also has automatic valves that will shut off if a leak is detected along a particular line to help prevent water waste. Instead of having a hidden plumbing leak that you don’t find out about until it becomes a major leak, you can easily learn about a leak when it’s small and easy to fix.
Insulation for Your Plumbing
One of the most affordable ways to lower your utility bills is to insulate your plumbing. Insulate your piping to not only prevent freezing but also allow your hot water pipes to retain more of their heat. This will allow you to keep your water heater at a lower temperature while still enjoying nice hot water from your faucets. Also, if you have a tank water heater, consider installing an insulating jacket on it to help it retain more heat in its tank.
Pressure-Reducing Valve
Another great upgrade for your home is a pressure-reducing valve. This reduces the pressure of any water coming into your home from the main water supply line to a more manageable level. This helps to extend the overall longevity of your pipes and reduces the amount of water that you use in your home.
ENERGY STAR Appliances
A fairly simple upgrade for your plumbing system is to invest in new appliances. Any appliances that use water should have an ENERGY STAR certification. This means that they use anywhere 40% to 50% less energy and water than your average appliances. A lot of these ENERGY STAR-certified appliances are even designed to work well with cold water alone so that you don’t have to waste your hot water on things like cleaning your dishes or clothes.
Smart Irrigation System
If you regularly irrigate your lawn, it’s likely that you have an automatic irrigation system. You may want to consider upgrading it using smart technology in order to minimize your water usage. Smart technology uses things like soil moisture monitors as well as local weather readings to help adjust water usage to ensure that your lawn gets the appropriate amount of water without overdoing it. This is great for saving water by skipping watering on days when it rains enough to properly irrigate your lawn.
Water-Efficient Bathtub
A really clever option for those who like to take baths is to upgrade to a water-efficient tub design. These bathtubs are specifically designed to enhance your comfort while reducing the amount of water that they hold. On average, water-efficient tub designs use about 30% less water than your standard tubs.
Condensate Recovery System
When your air conditioning system is running to beat the summer heat, it can produce anywhere between 5 and 20 gallons of water a day. A condensate recovery system will take that water and recycle it to use with your irrigation system. This is somewhat similar to a graywater recycling system except that it’s specifically designed to use condensation from the air to irrigate your lawn.
Smart Water Assistance Device
You can take smart technology integration a step further and invest in a smart water assistance device. Along with enjoying the leak detection feature of smart technology, you can get real-time data about your water usage. These smart water assistance devices will monitor your usage and send you alerts on what seem to be wasteful habits. This is a great way to help identify where your home is wasting water so that you can adapt your habits to be more water conscious.
Reliable Plumbing Upgrade Service
Southport Home Services offers reliable plumbing upgrade service for homeowners and businesses in the Wausau, WI area. We can also help with all your new plumbing fixture installation, repair, and maintenance needs. We can assist whether you want a new water heater installation or water treatment system.
Call our friendly office staff at Southport Home Services today to book your next service consultation.
