Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum banner

How To Make Your Plumbing More Energy-Efficient

437 views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  harmcorplumbing 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Home House Property Residential area Building


There are a number of different things that can impact your plumbing system. Regardless of how good the system is or how well you maintain it, it does end up becoming less efficient over time. If the system doesn't have the correct water pressure and doesn't work as it should, you may end up paying more for your utilities. A plumbing system can be upgraded to improve its overall water-efficiency and energy efficiency. A local plumbing professional like Harmcor Plumbing & Heating can help you optimize home your with quality products and professional installation. However, for the DIY crowd here are some of the simple things you can do, to make your plumbing more energy-efficient:

1. Update Your Faucets and Showerheads

While it may not always be feasible to replace an entire sink or shower, replacing just the faucets and showerheads can make a vast difference at a very little cost. The components in the fixtures tend to wear out over time and it becomes very difficult to clean the lime and rust off the fixtures, making it much easier to just get them replaced.

Installing low-flow aerators and faucets can help you reduce the water flow of the faucets without actually reducing the water pressure at all. When you install these in all the faucets in your home, the savings will eventually add up over time. Lastly, quality tankless water heaters are also a lot more efficient because they only heat the water you actually use.

2. Insulate Your Pipes

This is probably one of the most affordable options when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of your plumbing system. Insulating your pipes helps retain the temperature far better than conventional pipes that are left without any protection.

3. Low-Flow Toilet

Installing low-flow toilets will also help you save energy. These toilets perform as well as conventional toilets but are over 20% more energy-efficient than the latter. Dual-flush fixtures give you the option to choose between two different flush types. One uses less water and is used for flushing liquid waste while the other is more powerful and works like a standard flush.

4. Pipe Installation Design

When you are considering any home improvement project, keep your plumbing installations in mind as well. If your plumbing systems are very old, consider revamping them. When the plumbing lines are closer together the water flow is quicker. It's a good idea to have your bathroom, laundry room and kitchen areas in close proximity. This will help bring the plumbing lines closer together saving you a significant amount of water and energy.

5. Get All Appliances Evaluated

While this can be a slightly more expensive option, you can easily even out the costs in the long term. Appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers can strain your plumbing system and increase your energy costs. If these large appliances are old, it's a good idea to replace them, as the newer ones drain the water very efficiently and use less water to do basic jobs. According to Holland & Associates Real Estate, modern appliances are one of the best ways to increase your home's value.

Some Other Aspects To Keep In View

Ensure that you and your family are making a concerted effort to save water. Do not leave taps running in your home, when you don't need them. Fix leaky faucets and taps before the trickle turns into a stream, and make sure that there are no leaks in any pipes in your home. It also a good idea to install automatic sprinkler systems in your landscape, that operate on rain sensors.

In addition to this, it's important to get regular plumbing maintenance done; contact your residential plumbing contractor for this job. Regular plumbing maintenance can help to catch all the small problems before they get out of control, and can also help you reduce your monthly utility bills. If you follow these steps, you will find there is a noticeable change in the energy-efficiency of your plumbing system. These updates can also increase the value of your home which is another added bonus!
 
See less See more
1
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top