One of the key points of Eco-friendly plumbing is to reduce the amount of water that is wasted. You can tackle this problem from many different angles. You can try to minimize water consumption or even minimize chemical effects. In general, you can expect water consumption to be highest in either the bathrooms or the kitchen. The appliances that are there require more water than anywhere else.

If you think about it, most of the water that you use showering or flushing the toilet will often go to waste. Toilets in the US use about 1.6 gallons per flush! That’s a lot of water that gets flushed down the toilet after just one use!

Green plumbing will attempt to minimize the amount of water waste through many different techniques and tactics. It’s highly recommended by plumbers, as there are constant water shortages here. Green plumbing will benefit not only your household, but also the environment as a whole. With climate change upon us, it’s important that everyone tries to take as much action as possible to make a difference.

If you’re interested in making the plumbing in your home more Eco-friendly, you should consult with a plumber ahead of time to see what they recommend. There are many different ways that you can go about this, and the best way for your home will depend on many factors. Let’s take a look at some of the more common Eco-friendly plumbing tips below.

#1. Install Low Flow Shower Heads and Faucets

Shower heads can deliver as much as 5 to 8 gallons of water per minute! If you’re in the habit of taking a long shower, you’re wasting a lot of water every single time. Consider switching to a low flow shower head, as these plumbing appliances will usually deliver only about 2 gallons of water per minute. That’s a significant difference from traditional shower heads.

In addition to reducing water waste, low flow shower heads can also reduce your energy bills, as the water flowing through the shower head requires a lot less energy to heat up. It also means that your household is releasing a lot less gases, like carbon dioxide. In short, you’re making a positive environmental contribution as well!

Low shower heads aren’t all just gold and glitter. There are some drawbacks that you should be aware of too. For one, the water coming from these shower heads are typically a bit cooler than those that come from traditional shower heads. There’s also a bit of a time lag between the time that you adjust the temperature in the shower to when the water temperature actually changes, so make sure you give yourself a bit more time in the mornings if you’re in a rush!

These plumbing fixtures are also relatively easy to install. Most plumbers can get the job done in under an hour. They can also give you some recommendations on which brands or models may be most appropriate or compatible with your home.

#2. Switch to Eco-Friendly Toilets

When it comes to Eco-friendly toilets, you have a lot of options to choose. Different types of toilets use different ways to conserve water. These toilets are still as efficient as older models, so they’re definitely worth the switch. We’ll take a look at some of the different types of Eco-friendly toilets below. If you need any more information, ask one of our plumbers to provide you with a more thorough list of pros and cons.

Low-flow toilets

Traditional toilets use as much as 8 gallons per flush depending on when they were made. Toilets made prior to the 1980s will be at the higher end of the spectrum, using anywhere from 5 to 7 gallons per flush, while toilets made in the 1980s to 1992 will use about 3.5 gallons per flush. Toilets manufactured nowadays use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, but low flow toilets may use even less.

Dual-Flush Toilets

Have you noticed that a lot of toilets nowadays have two buttons at the top? These are dual flush toilets. Dual flush toilets have to leave on the side of the tank or two buttons at the top. This gives users a choice. One of the choices uses less than 0.8 gallons of water per flush and is recommended for liquid waste. The other uses 1.6 gallons per flush and is recommended for solid waste.

Some plumbers also recommend using the 1.6 gallon flush if there’s a lot of toilet paper in the toilet. You may need an extra strong flush to prevent clogs. Make sure that you don’t flush anything else in the toilet.

WaterSense Toilets

WaterSense toilets meet EPA criteria and are certified by CSA International. This is essentially a program that is similar to the Energy Star program for electric appliances. This program is designed to encourage manufacturers to produce more efficient plumbing appliances.

Toilets that have earned the WaterSense label use 20% less water than conventional toilets. Studies estimate that America could save up to 520 billion gallons of water per year if all toilets in the US are replaced with WaterSense models. Homeowners can also save more than $110 a year just by switching to WaterSense-labelled toilets!

If you’re not sure what toilets are WaterSense toilets, ask our plumber for a catalogue. They can walk you through the different types of toilets that are available, as well as the pros and cons of each label and brand based on their experiences.

Toilets with Sinks and Faucets at the Lid

The next toilet is also great for those who are tight in space. These toilets have a faucet/sink combo at the lid, and it essentially reroutes clean water from the supply line up through the faucet. When you flush, this water leaves the faucet and drains into the sink below immediately. In short, it reuses the water! These toilets can also be quite fashionable as well, and can really add a certain appeal to your washrooms.

If you’re interested in this type of toilet, you may need to speak with a plumber ahead of time to determine how the plumbing should be set up.

Composting or Waterless Toilets

Last but not least, we have composting or waterless toilets. Composting toilets do not use any water at all. Instead, they rely on a natural decomposition and evaporation cycle to recycle and break down waste. This type of toilet is not recommended for homes in urban areas; however, it can be a great addition to homes in rural areas.

#3. Install a Whole House Water Filtration System

This might sound unusual, but installing a whole house filtration system could make your home a lot more Eco-friendly. A whole house filtration system will remove all impurities from the water line, so that the water entering the plumbing in your home is clean. As there are less contaminants in the water, this type of filtration system will lengthen the life of existing plumbing.

Those who install a whole house water filtration system often find that the quality of the water is also greatly improved. They usually find that the water is cleaner and less likely to cause irritation.

When choosing a whole house filtration system, you’ll need to consider the size of the filter as well as the flow rate of all of your appliances. Ask our plumbers to also help you find a NSF-Certified filter system, as these have been tested and approved by authorities! Our plumbers can also help you find a great deal!

#4. Install the Right Type of Piping

The type of plumbing that you have in your home can also make a huge difference to how Eco-friendly your plumbing system may be. To make your plumbing more Eco-friendly, you definitely want to choose plumbing material that can maintain the water pressure with minimal leaking. It can be difficult to give you a good idea of which type of piping is best for your home without doing an in-person analysis and assessment.

If you’re interested in knowing whether you have the right type of plumbing in your home, speak with one of our plumbers, as they can come out and do a quick inspection. It’s usually best to make a switch if you are considering doing a re-piping of the whole home. Keep in mind that this type of plumbing service is lengthy, time-consuming and also expensive.

Our plumbers will also take this opportunity to see whether the piping is suitable for the weather and has an appropriate amount of insulation that will prevent both heat and energy loss. Proper insulation will also protect the pipes from freezing. Even if you have the right type of piping installed, you may not have the right type of insulation. If you don’t want to re-insulate the piping in your home, you can always install some type of water heater pump.

#5. Install a Greywater System

Greywater systems are also becoming incredibly popular. They’re a great way for preventing water wastage and will ensure that the water in your household gets used to its full extent. This type of system will take water that is “lightly used” and recycle it. For example, it will take water that comes out from the dishwasher and re-route it to an irrigation system after filtering out the soap.

Some greywater systems are even able to harvest rainwater as well. These types of reclamation systems can help homeowners save a lot of money on their water bills, as they use substantially less water. Most of the water that is reclaimed and re-harvested will go towards watering the lawn or yard. Rainwater that has been harvested will usually go towards things like flushing the toilet.

Greywater systems cannot be installed at every home. You’ll need one of our plumbers to come take a look at your home to see whether installing such a system would even be possible. Our plumbers will also determine the type of greywater system that’s going to give you the most bang for your buck and will also draw up a design that includes specifics like where the water will be diverted to after it has been collected and reused.

#6. Install a Leak Detection System

Last but not least, consider asking our plumbers whether a leak detection system will help! Leak detection systems will notify you immediately if there’s a leak somewhere in the plumbing. This means that you’ll be able to call one of our plumbers and have them fix the situation immediately to prevent additional water from getting wasted.

Ask any plumber. It’s always cheaper and easier to repair a small leak than it is to repair a large one! Large leaks can damage the plumbing as well, which may mean that you’ll have to replace sections of it!

Leak detection systems are not only eco-friendly. They are also great for your home as well since water damage can be irreversible and irreparable. If the water drips down to the foundation, it could cause a huge amount of damage. In fact, if the foundation becomes too weak as a result of the water damage, you’ll need to reset the foundation. This could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

We Can Help!

Homeowners should highly consider giving Mr. Drain Plumbing a call if they are interested in seeing what type of plumbing upgrades can improve their home. Our plumbers will be more than happy to come out and do a full assessment of your home to see what type of plumbing upgrades will make the most difference!

Mr. Drain Plumbing is known for providing excellent plumbing services at affordable prices. All of our plumbers are licensed, trained and insured. They’ll be able to handle any plumbing problem that comes their way with ease! Most importantly, our plumbers won’t leave until you’re happy! Rest assured that you’re in good hands!