Efficiency Tips for Your Bathroom Plumbing

How to Keep Your Plumbing Efficient

We usually hear the term “efficiency” when it comes to energy, appliances, or cars. But efficiency can also be applied to our home’s plumbing. It’s a system we rely on every day and there are many ways to help it work better for you.

Here are some tips that will keep your bathroom plumbing reliable and effective.

Seal Up Leaks

Water leaks can not only make a mess but will waste water and cost you money. If you have a dripping faucet or showerhead, it’s costing you more water than it may seem. Over time, tiny drops of water add up.

Leaks can be present around connection points for your faucet or shower. If your faucet is leaking water, try taking it apart and replacing the o-rings, which are baskets meant to seal pieces of the structure together.

If any pipes are leaking, make sure to have them fixed by a reliable plumber as soon as possible. Not only can ignoring the leak waste water, but it could exacerbate the problem.

A leak can also come from your toilet. Check around the base of your toilet for any moisture, as this can eventually damage your flooring and be a source of mold.

Use Soft Water

Water chemistry is important! When certain chemicals are more present in your water it is considered “hard.” Hard water, because of the excess in minerals, can actually damage your plumbing apparatus and fixtures.

Mineral buildup over time can create blockages in your pipes and clog up your faucets. This will only create problems for you down the line, so it’s important to treat the problem at its source. A whole-home water filter will remove these minerals (along with harmful chemicals and other contaminants) from your water. A water filter is not just about improving taste!

Get a High-Efficiency Toilet

Toilets have made a lot of progress over time. Today, high-efficiency toilets, which are toilets that use less water per flush, are the best way to help save water on a regular basis. Older toilets can use up to 6 gallons of water per flush, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That’s compared to just 1.6 gallons per flush on standard modern toilets. High-efficiency toilets can use even less!

So even if you don’t find a high-efficiency toilet you like, upgrading to a standard modern toilet can save you a significant amount of water.

Manage Water Flow

In addition to high-efficiency toilets, you can also get high-efficiency fixtures for the rest of your bathroom. This includes showerheads, bathtub faucets, and sink faucets. This will help cut down on water usage and save you money on your monthly bills.

Water pressure is also an important factor in your bathroom. To avoid random drops in pressure, try not to run too many water appliances at the same time. So, if you’re running the dishwasher, try to avoid also running the washing machine and taking a shower at the same time.

You can also generally cut down on water use by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, and only flushing the toilet when you need to.

A small tool that helps cut down on water is a faucet aerator. This piece of equipment attaches to your faucet and regulates how much water is distributed.

Your Home Services Professionals

When you need help with plumbing, electrical, or HVAC problems, go with the team at Ostrom Electrical Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning. Don’t hesitate to contact us today at (540) 685-4040 to learn more about how our expert team can help you.