Your Plumbing Company Has A Key Role In Your Water Conservation | Big Rock, IL

Your Plumbing Company Has A Key Role In Your Water Conservation | Big Rock, IL

An average American household uses over 150 gallons of water per person, which is more than double the average daily usage for citizens of some other nations, such as France or Holland. This isn’t the fault of any individual person. We’ve been very fortunate in America to have so many resources that our society didn’t develop with the idea of conserving resources in mind. We’ve rarely needed to do so. However, that doesn’t mean homeowners in Big Rock, IL, wouldn’t like to see lower water and energy bills, and water shortages are becoming more of a problem in parts of the United States. Your local plumbing company is actually the best resource available to make your home more efficient and use less water.

WaterSense Fixtures

Approximately 70% of water use inside residential homes occurs in showers, toilets, faucets, and washing machines. Almost 13% of indoor water use can be reduced simply by fixing leaks. Your plumbing company can help you find and fix leaks and make other changes that can add up to significant savings in water and even energy use.

Home improvement projects don’t have to be expensive. Plenty of simple and easy changes can make a big difference. Insulate the water heater to use less energy keeping hot water at the right temperature. Your plumber can install a device called a water heater jacket in less than 2 hours in most cases. Upgrading the insulation in walls, basements, and attics is also very useful for energy conservation, although you may need to consult other professionals beyond your plumbing company for some projects.

The EPA states that the average household can save up to 2,900 gallons of water per year simply by using WaterSense showerheads. Your local plumbing company can help you choose a WaterSense showerhead model that will work well in your household. While most average shower heads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute, a low-flow showerhead uses only 1.5 gallons per minute. That means it nearly cuts water usage in half for each shower. This doesn’t just help with water conservation, it also means you need less energy to heat the water for your daily shower. Some estimates state that the entire country could save 260 billion gallons of water every year if every household installed a low-flow showerhead.

WaterSense faucets are also very useful. A household can save approximately 700 gallons of water per year by replacing traditional faucets with WaterSense models. Although some homeowners try to install faucets themselves, you can save a lot of time and frustration by asking your local plumbing company to handle these projects. Professional plumbers can help you select appropriate fixtures and install them very quickly and efficiently. You won’t have to worry about making mistakes or running into problems that could disrupt the household routine for days or weeks at a time. Of course, the humble toilet can’t be left out of the water conservation statistics. Replacing old and inefficient toilets with more efficient models can add up to 13,000 gallons of water saved each year.

Water and Energy-Saving Strategies For Pools

Although pools aren’t a household necessity, they are common sites in Big Rock, IL. A refreshing dip in the pool can be very relaxing during the hot summer months. Even households concerned with water use can install and use pools responsibly. If your pool is a small above-ground model, it’s best to take it down at the end of summer because the pool isn’t likely to survive winter weather without damage. Inground and more permanent pool models can’t always be emptied for winter, but you can set the filter to operate less frequently. The water won’t need as much filtration in cold weather when no one is using the pool anyway.

A few simple habits can reduce water use during the summer months too. Keep the pool covered when it isn’t in use. This keeps dirt and debris out of the water, reduces evaporation, and decreases the amount of energy needed for heating. Depending on the model, you can reduce average heating costs by nearly 50% just by using a cover. can use 50% to 70% Consider turning off waterfalls and other features outside of special occasions. Water features expand the surface area of the water, which increases evaporation and heat loss. You can also ask your local plumbing company to evaluate your pool set-up and help implement water-saving strategies.

Tankless Water Heaters

Some plumbing projects really require professional services. Your plumbing company can help with upgrades and changes that add up to significant water savings. Switching to a tankless water heater that only heats water on demand can cut energy bills too. Tankless water heaters can run on electricity or natural gas. The major drawback of tankless heaters is that they can’t keep up with hot water use for multiple water-intensive tasks at once. For example, you may run out of hot water if someone uses the washing machine at the same time another person uses the shower.

This isn’t just applicable to tankless heaters though. Many households with traditional tank heaters try to avoid using multiple appliances at the same time as well. However, you can solve the problem by installing multiple tankless heaters. A plumbing company is your best bet when switching to tankless heaters so a professional plumber can install the new heater and any necessary gas pipes, wiring, or ventilation. Don’t 

forget that the old tank water heater also needs to be uninstalled and disposed of properly, which can be a hassle for homeowners. Your plumbing company can handle all of these tasks much more easily than most homeowners.

Contact Just In Time for all your plumbing needs and questions. The skilled, experienced plumbers at Just In Time provide services throughout Big Rock, IL, and the surrounding area. Don’t hesitate to call to schedule routine plumbing maintenance or ask about plumbing upgrades to make your home more efficient and use less water without disrupting your normal household routines.

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