Being more energy efficient is something every homeowner strives for, especially because it means less costs and more savings. Let’s take a look at the benefits of efficient plumbing and how to make your own plumbing more efficient!
Benefits of Efficient Plumbing
- It can greatly decrease your water bills.
- It can increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell.
- It’s good for the environment to cut down on water use.
- It decreases the likelihood of plumbing problems and water heat loss.
How to Make Your Plumbing Efficient
There are plenty of ways to increase the efficiency of the plumbing in your home:
Efficiency Tip #1: Go Tankless
Tankless water heaters are a highly efficient alternative to tank water heaters because they only heat the water while it is being used. They also use about 30-50% less energy than units that have tanks. These water heaters operate on natural gas or propane and offer a continuous supply of hot water to your plumbing fixtures.
Efficiency Tip #2: Use Low-Flow Showerheads
You don’t have to upgrade whole appliances in your home in order to make your plumbing more efficient. Simply switching out your old showerheads with newer low-flow products is a cheap and effective way of lowering water use and preventing leaks.
Efficiency Tip #3: Install Aerators
An issue with the early low-flow plumbing attachments was that homeowners has to sacrifice water pressure for efficiency. Consumers understandably began avoiding these low-flow products because the severe drop in water pressure just didn’t seem worth it. Luckily, aerators came around to help reduce water consumption while keeping water pressure high.
Efficiency Tip #4: Improve Insulation
Insulating your pipes not only protects them from freezing and bursting, but it also helps minimize heat loss that occurs when water flows from the water heater to the faucet. It also makes the water warmer when you turn your faucets on, meaning you will waste less water waiting for it to heat up.
Efficiency Tip #5: Schedule Regular Maintenance Checks
Having a plumber visit your home every year is a great way to make sure your plumbing has no leaks, cracks, or any other issues that could be causing water to be lost or wasted. Having drains cleaned can help improve your plumbing’s efficiency by preventing clogs and backups.
Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating is a licensed and professional Finksburg plumbing contractor dedicated to keeping your home’s plumbing and heating systems running smoothly and efficiently. For more information on our services, contact us today!