Water Saving Faucets and Other Tips for How to Save Water in the Bathroom.
Between the toilet, shower, and sink, the bathroom is the most common place where water is wasted in the home. However, there are some easy, affordable, and effective ways to reduce your water consumption here by making small upgrades to your plumbing fixtures.
Here’s what homeowners need to know about water saving faucets, other water conserving fixtures, and ultimately how to save water in the bathroom.
Water Consumption in New York
In New York City alone, people consume approximately 990.2 million gallons of water per day, which comes out to about 115 gallons of water per person each day. Water consumption has been dropping slightly in recent years, but New Yorkers can still certainly do better.
WaterSense Water Saving Faucets
Bathroom sink faucets labeled as “WaterSense” are a great way to reduce your water consumption. These types of water saving faucets use a maximum of 1.5 gallons of water per minute and are able to reduce a sink’s water flow rate by at least 30 percent. These products undergo a certification process and meet EPA criteria for efficiency and ample flow for use. You can find these water saving faucets at various price points, and some even include rebates or vouches to reward you for conserving resources.
Performance Showerheads as Water Conserving Fixtures
High performance showerheads are also water conserving fixtures that you can install in your bathroom to reduce your consumption. The federally mandated flow rate for new showerheads is 2.5 gallons per minute maximum, but low flow showerheads of 2.0 gallons per minute are even better for water consumption. This is because shower usage for an average family can easily reach 40 gallons of water used per day or more. You can find showerheads with the WaterSense label as well if they use no more than 2.0 gallons per minute and also provide a good showering experience.
How to Install a Pressure-Reducing Valve on Main Water Line
Another way to save water in the bathroom is to install a pressure-reducing valve. A home’s water pressure should be about 50 pounds per square inch, and pressures higher than this can benefit from such a valve. Turn off your home’s water at the supply pipe and the water heater too before draining out water by running your taps. Once this is done, you can remove the pipe with a wrench, clean it out, and attach the pressure-reducing valve to the fittings. For this, you’ll likely need a soldering torch and caulking paste. From there, you can mount the valve by connecting the valve extension piece onto the pipe and soldering it to fit. Let all of the heated parts thoroughly cool and then run water through the line to check for any leaks.
Tips for How to Save Water in the Bathroom
If you’re looking for even more ways to save water in the bathroom, Central Plumbing Specialties can help. We carry many eco-friendly and cost-effective plumbing supplies and bathroom fixtures in our New York showrooms and can answer all of the questions you have about their features and benefits.
Other water saving tips to remember (and to remind your family about) include checking pipes and faucets regularly for leaks, taking shorter showers, and installing faucet aerators. It also helps your consumption levels to turn water off while brushing your teeth or shaving and to replace old toilets with energy efficient versions as well. All of these small upgrades and lifestyle changes may seem insignificant in the short term, but they can really add up in terms of saving you money on your water bills and not wasting the valuable resource of water for future generations.