With low-flow faucets and showerheads installed in your home, you may see anywhere from a 25%-60% savings in water consumption. That will translate into a lower annual water bill.
Showerheads:
The new showerhead flow rates, mandated by federal regulations, can’t exceed more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch (psi). To give you a point of reference, prior to 1992, some showerheads had flow rates of 5.5 gpm. That is quite a difference and imagine the water usage as a result.
Some interesting stats:
- 17% of our indoor water usage is from the activity of showering.
- For the average family, showering results in an additional 40 gallons of water usage per day.
- This equals 1.2 trillion gallons of water used in the U.S. annually from showering.
If you are unsure of your current gallons per minute, there is an easy test you can do.
- Turn on your shower with the normal pressure you usually use and put a bucket underneath the showerhead.
- Make sure the bucket is marked with gallon increments so you can clearly see the number of gallons that accumulate.
- Time how long it takes to reach the one gallon mark.
- If it takes less than 20 seconds to reach one gallon, you likely would benefit by changing your current showerhead to a low-flow model.
Types of low-flow showerheads:
- Aerating – These showerheads form a misty spray by mixing air with water. They may not be the best choice in areas of high humidity.
- Laminar-flow – These showerheads form individual streams of water.
Faucets:
Federal regulations mandate that new faucet flow rates can’t exceed 2.5 gpm at 80 psi or 2.2 gpm at 60 psi. The aerator is what determines the maximum flow of the faucet. This is the screw-on tip of the faucet. It is an inexpensive item and easy to replace. They can be one of the most cost effective water conservation actions you can take. New kitchen faucets typically are equipped with aerators that restrict flow rates to 2.2 gpm. New bathroom faucets are typically equipped with aerator that restrict flow rates from 1.5 to 0.5 gpm.
These are simple fixes that can save you money each year. Get started now!
For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040
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