Green Plumbing Tips

Bring Some Green to Your Plumbing

What homeowner wouldn’t want to save on monthly water bills—and to help the environment, in the process? Green plumbing is a popular trend among homeowners, and it’s certainly not hard to understand why. It’s also not necessarily hard to implement it: There are a few basic steps that any homeowner can take in an attempt to make better, smarter, more eco-friendly use of water.

Repair Leaky Faucets

A slow leak may seem like little more than an annoyance to you now—but that steady drip of water ultimately adds up. The wasted gallons—and the wasted dollars—can quickly grow out of hand. Fixing leaky faucets, either on your own or with the help of an experienced plumber, can be a significant first step toward being really green in your household water use.

Upgrade Fixtures and Appliances as Needed

If your home has fixtures and appliances that are older and out-of-date, they probably do not conform to modern standards of eco-friendliness. In other words, you may be wasting a great deal of water simply because your plumbing is slightly antiquated. Now is as good a time as any to start thinking about making some green upgrades.

Two in particular to think about:

• Replace older, water-wasting toilets with low-flow, highly efficient ones.
• Replace your old water heater with a tankless one.

Go Green in Your Garden

Green plumbing isn’t just about what you do inside your home. It also encompasses what you do in your lawn and in your garden. If you do have a garden, think about the way you water it. The garden is a place where many homeowners waste copious amounts of water, but you can remedy this by implementing a “drip” irrigation system, or some other water-saving technique.

Lower Your Water Heater Temperature

Green plumbing is not just about saving water. It’s also about conserving electricity. This, too, is good for the environment, and also good for your monthly utility bills!

As such, one way in which homeowners can embrace green plumbing techniques is to simply lower the temperature on the water heater. The majority of homeowners have their heaters set far higher than they really need to be, which wastes money; there is no need to set it higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. (On a related note, it’s also smart to ensure that the water heater is properly insulated.)
Green plumbing does not have to be complicated. There are both minor and major steps that can be taken, over time, to reduce your household water waste—and rest assured that you’ll see the results the next time you receive your monthly water bill!