How to Conserve Water (and Save Money) in the Bathroom
When it’s time to remodel your bathroom, don’t forget to think about new ways to reduce water consumption. From efficient toilets and low-flow shower heads to double-checking for leaks from the toilet. Here’s how to complete a bathroom remodel with water conservation in mind.
Install a low-flow toilet
When it comes to indoor water use, toilet flushing is a major culprit. Flushing the toilet represents the largest source of indoor water use in single-family American homes — nearly a quarter of the household’s total water use.
There are low-flow toilets to suit an array of preferences and budgets. Gravity-assist toilets are the simplest and least expensive.
You don’t necessarily need to buy a new toilet to cash in on water savings. Tank inserts are cheap and using one will save up to 1 gallon per flush.
Get a new low-flow showerhead
Install a more water efficient showerhead like a WaterSense® certified model. Low-flow showerheads reduce the amount of water that travels through your showerhead and there are two types:
- Aerating showerheads that mix water with air.
- Non-aerating showerheads that simply have smaller holes.
Upgrade your faucet or install an aerator
You can also buy aerators for faucets. Since the installation is a breeze, this is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to save water in the bathroom.
If your bathroom remodel includes upgrades to fixtures, consider purchasing a new faucet with a WaterSense® label.
If you love baths, don’t get rid of the bathtub
Bathtubs use a considerable amount of water, so it’s not surprising that many homeowners opt to remove their tubs during a bathroom remodel.
You don’t necessarily need to remove the bathtub to save water if you use the bathtub frequently. Make bathroom remodeling decisions that work for your family and your lifestyle.
After your bathroom remodel, make time for maintenance
Make sure your bathroom, its new fixtures and the pipes that carry water stay in good shape with regular plumbing maintenance to prolong the equipment and avoid costly issues in the future.
This plumbing maintenance checklist for homeowners has everything you need to know about prolonging the lifespan of your plumbing systems. Keeping up with your home’s maintenance needs will ensure that you can use a systems and appliances warranty if you have one too.
2-10 HBW offers the most comprehensive Home Warranty coverage for homeowners. Let us help you protect your home.
