In today’s world, plumbing fixtures come in all styles, profiles, finishes – the options really seem endless. If you’re someone who values function just as much as form, you’ll appreciate the water-efficient plumbing fixtures available that will help you reduce water consumption and keep water utility costs low. Get the scoop on today’s efficient faucets, toilets, and more!
How We Discuss Water Consumption in Plumbing Fixtures
To understand the differences between standard plumbing fixtures and water-efficient fixtures, it’s important to know how their water usage is measured.
- For toilets and urinals, we use gallon per flush (gpf) to describe the amount of water the fixture uses to perform one flush.
- For sink faucets and shower heads, as well as other plumbing fixtures, we use gallons of water per minute (gpm) to describe how much water is released by the plumbing fixture over one minute.
When you compare the water usage of standard fixtures to water-efficient plumbing fixtures, you’ll be able to tell the difference. How much more efficient a new fixture is compared to an older one depends on its age and manufacture, as standards have grown stricter over the years to improve water conservation.
- For toilets, the current federal standard is 1.6 gpf. The most water-efficient fixtures use just 1.28 gpf or less! Toilets made before 1992 commonly use 3.5 gpf, and those built before 1982 use as much as 5 to 7 gpf.
- Today’s standard for residential bathroom faucet water use is 2.2 gpm. Water-efficient fixtures use no more than 1.5 gpm. Older faucets can use 3 gpm or more.
- Standard shower heads use 2.5 gpm. Water-efficient fixtures use no more than 2 gpm. Older models can use as much as 4 to 5 gpm.
Benefits of Installing Water-efficient Fixtures
Installing water-efficient and low-flow fixtures in your home does so much good. If those water-saving numbers alone aren’t enough to convince you to make the switch, check out the great benefits these plumbing fixtures bring to your household:
Lower water bills
If you pay for a water utility, the savings generated by water-efficient fixtures isn’t limited to just water – these fixtures will also save you money. When you’re paying for water, you’re paying for what you use. When your fixtures force you to use less, they automatically save you money.
- If every US home switched to efficient fixtures for shower heads, more than $2.9 billion would be saved in water costs and around $2.5 billion in hot water expenses.
- Replacing old toilets with water-efficient fixtures in the average home saves a family over $140 each year.
- Replacing standard bathroom faucets with efficient fixtures in every US home would save $1.3 billion in water and energy expenses.
Lower energy bills
You’ll see in the section above that energy savings are mentioned along with water savings from high-efficiency fixtures. This savings is related to the energy conserved by heating less water. Water-efficient fixtures make it so you require less hot water and thus less energy to take a shower, wash dishes, do a load of laundry, and more.
Stylish options
When it comes to style, today’s plumbing fixtures don’t lack in options. They are available in essentially the same finishes and designs as you’d find in standard fixtures. Plus, as technology and design have continued to progress, these new fixtures feature much more user-friendly features versus older models.
Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for Plumbing Upgrades at Home
Out with the old and in with the new – water-efficient fixtures are just too good to pass up! Explore your options with Douglas Cooling & Heating today, and we will help you find the fixtures that offer the style you want and the conservation abilities to meet your goals. Contact us anytime to schedule service.
