The average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home and roughly 70 percent of this use occurs indoors; 20 percent from showers and 19 percent from faucets according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.1 That’s over 100,000 gallons of water every year! If your home has older showerheads and faucets, that number could be even larger. By swapping out older showerheads and faucets for new water-saving models, you can help conserve water and save money on your water and energy bills every month.
Why you should replace older fixtures. Your plumbing fixtures wear down over time and need to be replaced to ensure you’re not losing water due to leaks. Even a small drip in your shower or sink can waste over 30 gallons of water a day.2 Keeping up with plumbing replacements and repairs not only makes sure that the water in your home is flowing smoothly, but will also detect any possible leaks and/or drips that may be costing you money every month in higher utility bills.
Why install low flow fixtures? The EPA reports that the average family uses 40 gallons of water each day in the shower.3 “Going from a 2.5 gpm unit to a water-saving 2.0 gpm showerhead could allow your family to save 2,900 gallons of water each year.”3 You’ll not only be saving on water bills, but also energy bills as you’ll be heating less water.
Your faucet’s aerator ultimately determines the maximum flow rate of your faucet. They are inexpensive to replace and the most cost-effective way to conserve water. For maximum efficiency, purchase aerators that have flow rates of no more than 1.0 gpm. If it’s time to update your kitchen and bathroom fixtures, look for low-flow fixtures that produce the same results.
Inspecting and replacing plumbing fixtures is one of the easiest ways to save money around your home. At Michael’s Plumbing, we can handle all of your plumbing needs, from a dripping faucet to a complete remodel. Give us a call (407) 219-9772 or contact us online today!
1 https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water
2 https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-drip.html
3 https://www.epa.gov/watersense/showerheads