Do Showers or Baths Use More Water?

If you are trying to conserve on water, you may wonder how much water your daily showers or baths use. It was once thought that showers were more water efficient, but is that really the case? You may have your own preference of showers or baths, but when it comes to water efficiency, it depends on how you use these methods.

Water Use for Baths and Showers

For baths, the amount of water you use is directly linked to the size of tub you have and how full you fill it. A deep tub versus a shallow tub can be a difference of tens of gallons of water. The average tub holds about 35 gallons of water, but it is unlikely most people will fill it that full. Depending on how much water you displace, you may only use 20-25 gallons, but that is a set amount no matter how long you linger in the bath.

For showers, you have control over your water use. An average showerhead uses about 3-4 gallons of water a minute. If you use a water-efficient showerhead, the amount could be less, about 2 gallons per minute. A 5-minute shower using an efficient showerhead will only use about 10 gallons of water, half of that of a bath. But a longer shower will use more, as will a conventional showerhead, making showers less efficient.

If you are looking for ways to conserve water, talk to your local plumber. They can help you install efficient fixtures and appliances that will make a significant difference in your water use, from showerheads and faucets to tankless water heaters and washers.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

6 Quick Ways to Reduce Water Use in Your Home

There are many reasons to limit the amount of water you use in your home. Water conservation is good for the environment and can also be good for your bank account. Excess water use can cost you more in utility bills, put extra stress on a septic system and deplete natural resources. There are many ways to reduce water use around the home, but here are six ways you can start today. 

  1. Stop running water down the drain. Whether you are brushing your teeth or rinsing dishes, avoid running water directly down the drain. Shut it off between uses.
  2. Take shorter showers. Each shower uses several gallons of water. Keep showers short, or better yet, turn off water while you lather up your hair and body, then rinse off.
  3. Only do full loads of laundry. Small loads of laundry add up to more water used than one full load. Only do laundry when you have a full load.
  4. Only do full loads of dishes. Just like the clothes washer, only turn on the dishwasher when it is completely full.
  5. Water grass and gardens morning/night. Less water is needed to water outside when it is cooler, so set the timer on your irrigation for morning or night.
  6. Fix leaks. A leaky faucet or shower can create gallons of water waste every day. Call a plumber and get those leaks fixed today.

You can greatly reduce your water use with these small tricks, helping with conservation and reducing the cost of water use in your home. Talk to your local plumber about installing water-efficient appliances and fixtures to reduce your water use even further.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(404) 973-2471

Be Green and Conserve Water During the Summer Months

When the dog days of summer hit and temperatures skyrocket, water becomes a more valuable commodity. In many areas, restrictions are put on water use to conserve this valuable and necessary resource. As a homeowner, you can do your part by finding ways to reduce your water usage in as many ways as possible. Here are a few ways to be green and reduce the amount of water your family uses this summer.

  • Water your lawn in the morning. If you must have a green lawn, conserve water by only using your sprinklers in the morning or during the night when water will not evaporate due to the mid-day heat. This will be better for your lawn and for conserving water.
  • Water plants manually. If you have potted plants that you use your hose to water, try using a hand-held watering can instead of a hose. This will save on excess water being lost between plants.
  • Use a pool cover. If you have a pool, use your pool cover when it is not in use to reduce evaporation and conserve on water.
  • Upgrade all your fixtures. If you have not done so already, upgrade all your faucets, showerheads and toilets to low-flow options. You can save hundreds of gallons a day just from doing this one step. Talk to your local plumber about installing your new fixtures.
  • Check for water leaks in your outdoor and indoor plumbing. A small drip from your outdoor water faucet or in your bathroom sink is a big waste of water. Call your local plumber to get these leaks fixed to save water and money.

Everyone needs to do their part to help reduce water waste, especially during the hot summer months. Make a plan to start using conservation methods to save this important natural resource that we all need.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

How Green is Your Plumbing?

You want to do your part to live a green lifestyle, conserving energy and reducing waste. One of the most valuable natural resources we have is clean, fresh water. It is easy to take this resource for granted when it flows so freely into your home. However, there are ways to reduce water waste by upgrading to green plumbing in your home.

Green Plumbing Upgrades

Water efficiency is not only good for the environment, it can also be a way to save money off your utility bills. Using less water and heating less water both can save money every month, plus it is a great way to do your part to conserve natural resources. To upgrade your plumbing to a greener approach, here are a few ideas:

–          Faucets and showerheads. Start with the small fixtures that are inexpensive to replace. Water efficient faucets and showerheads can reduce your water usage by gallons per day.

–          Efficient toilets. You are literally flushing money down the toilet if you have an older, inefficient toilet. New models like WaterSense can save 4,000 gallons of water a year while performing as good, or better, than older models.

–          Water heaters. Do you still have a tank water heater that keeps water hot 24/7, wasting energy? Upgrade to the greener option of a tankless or on demand model, saving you up to 50% less energy for hot water.

Almost all water appliances and fixtures now come in water efficient models that can reduce the waste in your home. To get a green plumbing makeover, talk to your local green plumber to discuss replacing your toilets, water heaters and other water appliances with more efficient options.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

Going Green and Saving Money!

In today’s world, there is a great deal of interest in being environmentally responsible or “going green”, especially in the use of water.  There is also a great deal of interest in reducing costs, as the economy continues to recover from the “great recession”.  There are a number of steps that homeowners can take in regards to their plumbing systems that will not only be environmentally responsible, but also save the homeowner money at the same time! 

A great deal of water is wasted thru the use of older toilets and traditional showerheads.  The EPA has estimated that on a typical home in the United States using traditional toilets, approximately 4,000 gallons of water is wasted per year.  This translates to approximately $90.00 per year in water bills for toilets alone.  Older showerheads use a significant amount of water as well, with traditional showerheads having approximately 2.5 gallons of water per minute flowing thru it. 

Using new WaterSense toilets and showerheads save water and money at the same time.  It is estimated that a WaterSense toilet will use 20% less water per flush than a traditional toilet, while a WaterSense showerhead will reduce the flow of water thru the head to less than 2 gallons per minute.  As with most things, the key to these savings is the technology associated with these new products, which reduce the amount of water required for the fixture to perform without impacting performance or appearance. 

Going “green” with your plumbing fixtures is not only environmentally responsible, but it is also a great way to reduce your expenses in the long term!

Posted on behalf of Find Local Plumber