Conserving water is an important aspect of living in the desert southwest. Decades long drought conditions have left Lake Powell only 35% full and Lake Mead less than 38% full. With the federal government declaring an unprecedented water shortage for the Colorado River and Lake Mead, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a formal shortage declaration for the first time ever in 2021. The Colorado River provides water for 40 million people, and under Level 1 water usage cuts, Arizona will face the biggest reduction with farmers being directly affected first. With all that in mind, here are three home plumbing improvements you can make for 2022 to help reduce your home’s water demand and help you save on water bills.
Low-Flow Toilets
According to the EPA, toilets account for almost 30% of water use in the average house. The EPA estimates that you’ll save up to $110 per year on your water bills with the addition of low-flow toilets. And they will last up to 30 years before needing replacement. To do your part in reducing water usage, installing a low-flow toilet can help save thousands of gallons of water every year. Some additional tidbits of information to consider: the average person will flush the toilet six times a day and a low-flow toilet will use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, amounting to a 70-80 percent water savings. Low-flow toilets have smaller tanks and some even have the option of a dual flush providing even more flexibility in flushing usage.
Water-Saving Showerheads
Installing water-saving showerheads can also make a big difference. The EPA estimates if every home in the U.S. replaced existing showerheads with WaterSense labeled models, more than 260 billion gallons of water would be saved, resulting in $5.4 billion in reduced water and energy costs annually. WaterSense labeled showerheads are independently certified to meet EPA water efficiency standards and performance criteria. These showerheads not only use less water, but also provide high water pressure. The showerheads provide optimum water pressure at 80psi, so there’s no need to be concerned about the showerhead not providing enough water pressure to shower comfortably.
Tankless Right-Sized Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters providing unlimited hot water and space-saving design can be an excellent addition to your home’s plumbing system in 2022. You’ll never run out of hot water again! You can run hot water taps at the same time or even multiple showers simultaneously without a reduction in hot water supply. Tankless heaters save space, are more cost effective, more durable with life spans ranging from 20 to 25 years, and the efficient functionality of tankless water heaters allows for instant hot water!
Call Cool Blew
For additional details on these money saving, climate friendly plumbing improvements for 2022, call Cool Blew, your locally owned experts in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. Call Cool Blew today Valley Wide at 623-872-2900.
