Category Archives: Energy Efficiency

5 Modern And Innovative Toilet Designs

April 13, 2019Bathroom Remodeling, DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorizedmatt

There are four important things that you should be concerned about when furnishing your bathroom; functionality, comfort, safety, and aesthetic appeal. The bathroom is one of the most visited rooms in the house. And it’s home to some of the most important fixtures and appliances in the home plumbing system. The first thing that you should ensure when furnishing your bathroom, especially during a bathroom remodeling project, is that all these plumbing fixtures and appliances are highly functional. This means that you should install high quality faucets, showerheads, bathtubs, toilets, urinals etc in your bathroom. You may want to install a tankless water heater for instant hotwater for showers and baths.

You should also ensure that your bathroom is as comfortable as possible. This means that you should upgrade to luxurious bathroom fixtures like walk-in bathtubs and smart toilets. Safety in the bathroom can be enhanced by installing slip-resistant tiles and floor mats and other safety features like grab-on bars in the shower. You should also mind the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom. Make sure that the floors and walls are beautiful. Bathroom cabinets should also compliment the overall decor of the room. And while you are implementing all these impressive changes, do not forget the toilet. This is one of the most important fixtures in the bathroom. Consider the following modern and innovative toilets when sprucing up your bathroom.

One-Piece Toilets

Most American homes feature the traditional two-piece toilet. A two-piece toilet comes with a separate toilet tank and bowl. These two essential parts are manufactured and installed separately. But nowadays we have the one-piece toilet that features a single unit with both the toilet tank and the bowl attached. The one-piece toilet has a classier sleeker design. Another advantage of the one-piece toilet is that it takes up less space than the two-piece toilet. However, one-piece toilets are a little bit more expensive than the two-piece models.

Wall-Mounted Toilets

Another impressive toilet design is the wall-mounted toilet. This toilet is mounted on the wall instead of being stuck to the floor. The floor-standing toilet is till very popular in the United States but people are looking for other options. The wall-mounted toilet comes in many stunning designs. The toilet bowl is hung a few inches from the floor and the toilet tank is hidden inside the wall. There is a control panel for flushing the toilet. This toilet saves a lot of space and offers a stylish look to your bathroom. The wall-mounted toilet is costlier than the floor-standing model. You will need a professional plumber who provides DC drain and sewer services to help you install this type of toilet.

Pressure-Assisted Toilets

Most of us are used to the traditional gravity-feed toilet that uses gravity propelled water to flush human waste. But now we have the water efficient and eco-friendly pressure-assisted toilets, such as flushometers and dual-flush toilets. These toilets consume very little water when disposing of human waste.

Comfort Height Toilets

While the standard toilet stands at about 14-15″ in height, a comfort height or seat height toilet is 17-19″ in height. These toilets are designed for comfort. They are ideal for people with limited physical mobility.

High-Tech Or Smart Toilets

Smart or high-tech toilets are very common in Japan and they are now gaining popularity in the West. They feature many luxurious features including heated seats, deodorizing seats, hands-free flushing, bidets, automatic overflow protection, toilet bowl nightlights, motion-activated lighting, self-cleaning wands, warm-air dryers, and many other tech-oriented features.

Advantages Of Installing Low-Flow Fixtures

February 18, 2019Bathroom Remodeling, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorizedmatt

Many homeowners are now installing high efficiency plumbing appliances and fixtures to help conserve water and energy at home. High efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances are specially designed to save water and power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues ratings to all high efficiency products that are designed to save water and energy. EPA issues the WaterSense rating to all high efficiency water-saving fixtures and appliances. These are usually low-flow plumbing fixtures that consume up to 60% less water than ordinary fixtures. EPA also issues an Energy Star rating to all plumbing appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters that are designed to save energy. You should always ensure that you buy these EPA rated high efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances to reduce your monthly water and energy bill. By upgrading to these high efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances, you will play an important role in conserving water and energy. You will also be assured that the product is of very high quality and will hence last for a very long time. Today we are going to look at the advantages of installing high efficiency low-flow plumbing fixtures like faucets, toilets, showerheads, urinals, and even sprinkler systems.

Save Water

The main advantage of installing low-flow plumbing fixtures is to save water. As mentioned above, low-flow fixtures can use 60% less water than standard plumbing fixtures. This means that you will be reducing the amount of water consumed in your home by more than half. One of the things that you should prioritize when doing bathroom remodeling in DC is to upgrade to high efficiency low-flow fixtures. You should make sure that all the plumbing fixtures you install in your home are WaterSense rated. Water is a very important natural resource. Water is also a limited resource. As such, we all have a personal responsibility to conserve water. And one of the most effective ways of conserving water is by reducing the amount we consume at home. High efficiency low-flow fixtures will help you save a lot of water at home. Make sure you buy WaterSense rated low-flow faucets, showerheads, urinals, and toilets. Your outdoor sprinkler system should also be low-flow and WaterSense rated.

High Efficiency & Functionality

The other important benefit of installing high efficiency low-flow fixtures is efficiency. These EPA rated low-flow fixtures are very efficient or functional. Despite using very little water, these plumbing fixtures are highly efficient. This means that you will still get the right amount of water from your low-flow faucets and showerheads. Some of these low-flow faucets are touchless or hands-free. This minimizes the amount of water wasted when the tap is being turned on and off. Even the low-flow toilets and urinals are highly efficient. They still dispose of human waste efficiently while conserving a lot of water. Your high efficiency low-flow sprinkler system will still water your lawn or garden efficiently while still conserving water. Any questions that you may have can be answered by your local plumber.

High Quality

Before issuing the WaterSense rating or the Energy Star rating to high efficiency products, EPA considers the quality of such products. The products must have a long warranty. It must also be highly functional. It’s not just a matter of conserving water and energy; the product must also be of very high quality. You will get high quality and very durable products that are also low-flow. This means that you will get real value for your money when you buy low-flow plumbing fixtures.

Water Saving Tips For The Cold Season

October 23, 2018DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

The warm spring and summer seasons are very much behind us and we are now going to experience cold weather for many months to come. The cold season is not all that bad. It allows families to come together and to spend more time indoors. This means that there is lots of cooking and cleaning because everyone is always at home. This translates into huge water and energy consumption at home. But as we move from fall to winter, there are several water and energy saving tactics that you can implement to trim your water and energy bill. When it comes to energy conservation at home, you have to institute strict rules about power usage. All electrical or gas appliances that are not in use should be switched off. There should be no lights in any unoccupied room. You should by now have upgraded to Energy Star certified plumbing appliances to ensure maximum energy savings. And all those incandescent bulbs should be replaced with LED bulbs. After putting all these energy saving measures in action, you can now turn to the water. You can use the following water saving tips to lower your water bill during this cold season.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends WaterSense certified plumbing fixtures. EPA awards WaterSense certification to low-flow plumbing fixtures, such as bathroom faucets, showerheads, toilets, urinals, pre-rinse spray valves, irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies. These low-flow fixtures consume at least 20% less water than the standard models. Installing these water-efficient plumbing fixtures will trim your water bill by a huge margin.

Install An Instantaneous Water Heater

You can save a lot of water and energy if you install a tankless water heater or an instant water heating system. These instantaneous water heaters heat water on demand. They do not have a reservoir tank for storing the heated water, which means that they do not suffer standby heat loss. Instantaneous water heaters save water because you do not have to wait for the water to heat and hence leave the shower running for some time. Tankless water heaters require less maintenance, which means that your DC water heater repair bill will also be reduced.

Avoid Frozen Pipes

The cold season poses a serious problem to your water supply pipes. The water in these pipes can get frozen during the extremely cold weather. This problem can also affect your drainage and sewer lines. But the highest risk is on the water supply pipes. You should leave your thermostat on during the cold season to avoid frozen pipes. You should also insulate the outdoor pipes to keep them from freezing. Frozen pipes get clogged and they can easily burst leading to massive water loss in your home.

Timely Repairs

All plumbing problems should be fixed immediately. Any leak in your pipes or fixtures should be fixed immediately to avoid unnecessary water loss. You can try various DIY remedies before calling a professional plumber to fix a leak.

Water And Energy Saving Tips For Your Washing Machine

October 18, 2018Bathroom Remodeling, DC Plumber, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorizedmatt

Washing machines are very important devices in the house because they keep our clothes clean. But like all other powered devices, washing machines consume energy. Whether it’s electricity or gas, washing machines need power to function. And this power costs money. One thing that you should always do as a homeowner is to try and reduce water and energy consumption in your house. You should identify all plumbing fixtures and appliances that use water and energy and implement effective conservation tactics to trim your water and power bill. You can start by installing low-flow plumbing fixtures including taps, showers, and toilets. You should also consider upgrading to energy efficient plumbing appliances like washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, and so on. This will ensure that you spend less on water and energy every month. Regarding your washing machine, the following water and energy saving tips will come in handy.

Buy An Energy Star Certified Washing Machine

You should upgrade to an Energy Star certified washing machine. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives Energy Star rating to high quality high efficiency plumbing appliances. These appliances undergo thorough tests to ensure that they fulfill the designated energy savings before acquiring certification. An Energy Star certified washing machine uses 20% less energy and 35% less water than the standard models. Upgrading your plumbing fixtures and appliances is one important part of bathroom remodeling in DC. You should consider upgrading to a high efficiency washing machine during your bathroom remodel in order to save energy and water in your house.

Buy Front Loading Washers With Automatic Sensors

You should buy a front loading washing machine that is equipped with automatic sensors to reduce water consumption. The automatic sensors detect the amount of water required to do the cleaning and this ensures no wastage when you are cleaning your clothes. Front loading washing machines consume less water for the same amount of washing. You should also buy the smallest possible washing machine that can meet your cleaning needs. Buying a big washer that you do not need will only lead to massive water and energy consumption in your house.

Wash Full Loads

You should never under-load or overload your clothes washer. Ensure that you load full loads in your washer to ensure optimal functionality. This means that the machine will wash the clothes properly and consume only the required amount of water and energy.

Use Cold Or Warm Water

Using hot water to wash clothes will hike your energy bill because the water has to be heated first. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, you should always use cold water to clean your clothes. If the clothes require heated water, then you should use warm water instead of hot water.

Soak The Clothes First

You can ease the cleaning job for your washing machine by soaking the clothes first. This will make stain removal easier and simplify the whole washing process. The clothes will be easier to clean and they will be washed in a shorter time. In other words, the washing machine will consume less water and energy to clean the pre-soaked clothes.

Use High Quality Detergent

Always use a high quality and high efficiency cleaning detergent in your washing machine. These high efficiency detergents do not necessarily cost more. But they leave fewer suds in the machines, which do not really affect its performance.

Tips For Lowering Your Hot Water Bill During The Cold Season

September 23, 2018DC Plumber, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

The hot water heater becomes super essential during the cold season. This is because we really need that hot water during these chilly months. And now that the warm spring and summer months are behind us, it’s time to think about that water heater. It’s quite normal to use hot water for bathing and cleaning during the warm seasons. But you can always opt for a cold shower on a hot summer day. The fall and winter seasons are quite chilly and hence you have no choice but to power up that water heater so that you can enjoy a hot bath or shower. This means that the hot water bill increases significantly during the cold fall and winter months. But there are several measures that you can implement to lower your hot water bill during the cold seasons. Use the following tips to reduce your hot water bill this fall and during the upcoming winter season.

Insulate The Tank

The most effective way of lowering your hot water bill is by insulating the tank in your hot water heater. Bearing in mind the fact that the hot water heater is one of the biggest consumers of energy at home, you should do everything you can to reduce its energy intake. If you won a conventional storage water heater, then you know that it has a reservoir or tank for holding the heated water. The bad news is that this tank is susceptible to standby heat loss. In other words, the heated water loses some of its heat when sitting in the tank. In order to minimize this energy loss, you should insulate your tank thoroughly. You can insulate the tank in your water heater without consulting a professional plumber. You just need to follow the instructions in the insulation materiel and everything will be fine.

Shorter Showers

You should consider reducing the number of showers that you take to reduce your water and energy bills. You should also start taking shorter showers top reduce the amount of water used and the energy consumed by your water heater. And while we are still talking about saving water, you should avoid those long baths. Go for shorter showers instead.

Set A Low Temperature

You can save the amount of energy consumed by your hot water heater during the warm and cold seasons by adjusting the temperature to a lower setting. The Department of Energy recommends that you set your water heater at 120 degrees. This temperature is adequate to heat the water sufficiently. It also prevents unnecessary energy consumption and prevents scalding when you shower.

Upgrade To A High Efficiency Model

If you own an old standard tank water heater, then you should consider upgrading to a new high efficiency model. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives Energy Star certification to high efficiency products like water heaters. These high efficiency models consume a fraction of the energy consumed by older highly inefficient models. You can consult a professional DC water heater plumber regarding an upgrade or replacement of your old water heater. He will offer you various options to choose from in order to achieve maximum energy savings.

The Three Main Types Of Services Offered By Gas Plumbers In Washington DC

July 21, 2018DC Plumber, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorizedmatt

Gas plumbing is an extended service package offered by established plumbers in the Washington DC area. Gas plumbers undergo a different kind of training than ordinary or general plumbers. Professional gas plumbers are trained in the gas industry but they still undergo the three basic levels of training just like general plumbers. Gas plumbers start at the apprenticeship level where they study in class and in the field for several years before taking exams and proceeding to the journeyman level. As journeymen, the trained gas plumbers work under a master gas fitter for several years before taking gas industry exams to graduate to the top level. Journeymen gas plumbers who pass their final exams become master gas fitters who can apply for practicing licenses in their individual states. A master gas fitter is required to have a clean criminal record and to have proper academic and technical credentials plus proper licensing and bonding before he can be issued with a practicing license at the state level. All gas plumbers in the Washington DC area offer the following services to their residential and commercial clients.

Gas Piping And Repairs

The most basic service package offered by every gas plumber in Washington DC is gas piping and repairs. Every DC gas plumber is trained to install, repair, and replace gas pipes/lines. You can hire a gas line plumber to install new gas pipes in your newly built home. The gas line plumber will lay down all the gas supply pipes and connect you to the main gas supply pipe from the utility gas company. You can also hire a professional gas line plumber to retrofit your old home with new gas pipes. This can be the case if you didn’t have gas supply pipes before and you now wish to supplement your electrical energy with natural gas or propane. Just like in general plumbing, the most popular gas service is repairs. Professional gas plumbers are hired to diagnose and fix all kinds of gas problems and issues including gas line leaks, gas appliance leaks, gas supply problems, and main gas supply line issues. You can hire a gas line plumber to replace your old, leaky and worn-out gas lines with new ones as part of the gas piping service package.

Gas Leak Detection And Repairs

Although gas leaks fall under the gas repair services, most gas plumbers in Washington DC offer this service as a separate package due to the sensitive nature of this problem. Gas leaks are quite dangerous because they can result in gas explosions in your home or in your workplace. You should call your local gas plumber as soon as you suspect or detect a gas leak in your home or place of business. Some signs of gas leaks include the smell of rotten eggs, hissing sounds, and dry dying vegetation cover where your gas lines run underground. Gas plumbers use specialized equipment to detect and pinpoint a gas leak and to repair leaky gas pipes or appliances.

Gas Line Inspection And Maintenance

You should commission a professional gas plumbing company to inspect your home or office gas supply system on a regular basis. These inspection runs should be conducted every few months and they should be very thorough covering the entire gas supply piping network and all gas fixtures, water heaters, and appliances. You should implement or recommended maintenance practices and activities immediately.

How To Choose A New Hot Water Heater

July 18, 2018DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Nowadays there are so many models and brands of hot water heaters that the average customer requires some guidelines for choosing the right water heater for his home. We have water heaters of many different functional designs and fuel types. Basically, there are three main types of hot water heaters in the market today based on their functional design. We have the most popular water heater in the United States called the conventional storage or standard tank water heater. The conventional storage water heater comes with a reservoir or storage tank for holding the heated water for later consumption. We also have the tankless water heater also called the demand-type, on-demand, or instantaneous water heater. As you can tell from the names, the tankless water heater has no reservoir or storage tank for holding heated water but rather heats water ion demand after being switched on. And lastly we have the hybrid heat pump water heater. The hybrid heat pump water heater uses a reverse refrigeration technique to absorb heat energy from the environment to heat water. It’s called a hybrid model because it usually features an additional fuel source to supplement the environmental heat during the cold season. Just like conventional storage water heaters, hybrid heat pump water heaters have storage tanks. You should always consider the following factors when choosing a new hot water heater for your home or workplace, and talk it over with your local plumber for his expert advice for your specific situation.

Consider The Efficiency

Out of the three hot water heater models, the hybrid heat pump water heater is considered to be the most efficient because it does not necessarily require any fuel to heat water. The tankless water heater comes in second because it does not loose heat in stored hot water. The conventional storage water heater is the most inefficient model because it loses a lot of heat energy in the stored hot water. It is very important that you consider the efficiency of a water heater to avoid huge energy bills. The water heater accounts for almost 20% of your home energy bill, which means the more inefficient it is, the higher your energy bills. The efficiency factor also factors in the cost of the water heater. Generally the tankless water heater is more expensive to buy and install, but it ends up being the most economical option because of its low energy bills and because it’s easier and cheaper to maintain and it lasts longer than all the other models.

Consider The Installation Space

The tankless water heater has no reservoir or storage tank and hence takes up about a fifth of the total space used by a conventional storage or a hybrid heat pump water heater. This means that if you have limited space for installing your hot water heater, then the tankless model is the best. Before you buy a new hot water heater, you should consult a reliable DC water heater plumber for advice regarding the versatility of installation based on the available installation space.

Consider The Fuel Type

And last but not least, you should always consider the fuel type of the water heater. Most water heaters use gas or electricity but there are also some hybrid models that combine two or more fuels. We also have modern solar water heaters that use sunlight. You should always consider the availability, affordability, and efficiency of the fuel type of any water heater before purchase.

Useful Plumbing Hints and Tips For Homeowners

June 23, 2018Bathroom Remodeling, Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Sewer Issues, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Most homeowners remember their plumbing system when there is a plumbing emergency. We usually take our bathrooms, sinks, water supply pipes, water heaters, and other plumbing appliances and fixtures for granted until there is a serious malfunction in the system. That is when we remember to call out local plumbers for a DC clog service or a DC water heater service. This should not be the case at all. You should be well acquainted with your home plumbing system and you should always take good care of all your home plumbing installations, fixtures, and appliances. Many homeowners could use a few tips and hints for maintaining an excellent home plumbing system. This article contains valuable advice on how to care and maintain the health of your home plumbing system.

Turn Off All Water And Power When Not In Use

You should never have a tap running when the water is not being used. You should always make sure that all faucets and showers are turned off before you leave the house or go to bed. Sometimes there are water shortages and you might find your taps running dry because of water rationing by the municipal utility. You should make sure that you turn all these taps and showers off before the water comes back. And in order to conserve energy, you should switch off all electric or gas powered plumbing appliances when not in use. Make sure that all lights are turned off when there is none in the room. And in order to ensure plumbing safety, you should turn off all power when you have a relevant plumbing emergency.

Install A High Quality Home Plumbing System

The most effective way of ensuring that your plumbing system is always in tiptop condition is top install a high quality system in the first place. This means that you should install high quality plumbing fixtures and appliances and use high quality plumbing materials. You want to make sure that every single component in your plumbing system is in excellent condition. This necessitates careful sourcing of all your plumbing pipes, faucets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, water heaters, sump pumps etc.

Know Your Home Plumbing System

There is no way you can maintain your plumbing system in excellent condition if you do not know it. You should know all the components and areas of your home plumbing system. Start by identifying the critical areas of your home plumbing system. These include the water meters, water shutoff valves and electrical breaker boxes, the water heater, the septic tank, and the water supply and drainage pipe network.

Hire Qualified Plumbers

You should always hire qualified, competent, and reliable plumbers for all your home plumbing projects. Make sure that your plumber has fulfilled the requisite academic and technical training and that he has all the proper licenses, insurance and bonding as required by law. Also ensure that you sign favorable plumbing contracts for all your home plumbing projects.

Observe Plumbing Care And Maintenance Best Practices

And last but not least, you should always observe the proper plumbing care and maintenance practices. This means that you should inspect your home plumbing system regularly. You should also hire a professional plumber to inspect your home plumbing system from time to time. You should also implement timely repairs in case there is any plumbing problem in our home.

How To Save On Water Heater Repair Bills

June 22, 2018DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Water heaters are some of the most important plumbing installations in any home. They are used to heat water and supply it for all your cleaning and washing needs. Like all other household appliances, water heaters are bound to break down and malfunction from time to time. This is especially so if the water heater is old. If you have an old water heater, then you might be incurring some heavy repair bills on a regular basis. Malfunctioning water heaters can cause a lot of problems. Firstly, these faulty water heaters compromise the supply of hot water in the house. They might not supply enough hot water or the water might not be sufficiently hot when it is supplied. Secondly, these old water heaters can be corroded and hence supply rusty water in the house. Another sign of a faulty water heater is leakage. You might find that your water heater is leaking, which will cost you lots of money when paying for the wasted water. Insulation problems are also present in old water heaters that have low thermal resistance. If you are suffering from any of these problems, then you have to call a professional plumber to repair or replace your water heater. You can save on these repair charges by doing the following.

Install A High Quality Water Heater

You can solve these problems before they even occur by preventing them. And how do you do that? Install a high quality water heater. When it comes to water heaters, there are three main types, namely conventional storage water heaters, tankless water heaters, and hybrid heat pump water heaters. Each of these water heater types has its own pros and cons. But regardless of the type of water heater that you install in your home, your major concern should always be quality. You should select highly rated water heaters with all the marks of quality. You can tell the quality of any water heater by checking its warranty guarantee. Buy a water heater that offers a long warranty guarantee to avoid frequent breakages and costly repairs.

Ensure Timely Repairs

You can also save on water heater repair bills by ensuring timely repairs. The moment you detect or suspect any problem in your home water heater, you should immediately call your local plumber for a timely fix. Whether it’s a leak or a hot water output problem, just call your local plumber for an immediate and viable solution.

Regular Inspection And Proper Maintenance

Professional plumbers offer water heater inspection and maintenance services. Like every other plumbing installation in your home, you water heater should be inspected regularly by a professional plumber. Actually you should also inspect the water heating unit on your own. But you should also schedule routine inspections with your local plumber. The plumber will also implement various maintenance measures on your water heater. You should abide by all the recommendations offered by the water heater inspector after the inception.

Hire Competent Water Heater Plumbers

You should never use unqualified plumbers for any home plumbing task. There are professional plumbers who specialize in water heater services. These plumbers usually advertise many services, including DC sewer inspection services, drain cleaning services, leak detection and repair services, installation of sump pumps and other plumbing appliances and fixtures, and many more. Make sure that water heater services are listed in these services catalog and that the plumber is qualified and licensed to practice in Washington DC.

Water Saving Tips For Homeowners

June 18, 2018DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorizedmatt

Unquestionable fact: Water is the essence of life. Sad fact: Many people die every day because they can’t access clean water for drinking and for other household uses. Frightening fact: We continue to waste water despite the fact that water is a limited resource. It has already been established that well over 3 million people die annually or more than 350 lives are lost daily due to poor sanitation and water-related preventable diseases in the world. In order to curb this killer problem, the United Nations launched the “Water for Life” initiative from 2005 to 2015 in what it called the International Decade for Action to solve water related issues throughout the world. The initiative was supported by quality plumbers and other affected professionals and it was quite a success. One of the main objectives of such initiatives is to educate the public regarding these pertinent issues. In water related issues, the public needs to know the importance of conserving water. You can save a lot of money by adopting the following water conservation tactics.

Turn Off Faucets And Showers After Use

You should never leave a tap running after use. Make sure that all faucets and showers are turned off after use to avoid water wastage. You should also avoid the habit of brushing your teeth with the tap running. Use a glass to fetch water for brushing you teeth instead of wasting water with a running tap. If you wish to drink cold water, fill a glass or a jug with water and put it in your fridge. This means that you will not leave the tap running for some minutes before you fetch sufficiently cold water to quench your thirst.

Fix Dripping Faucets, Showerheads, And Other Plumbing Fixtures And Appliances

You should make a point of fixing all dripping faucets and showerheads and any other leaking pipes, fixtures and appliances. Most people assume that slow dripping facets are not a major plumbing concern. What they don’t know is that a faucet that drips one drop of water per second can waste over 2,000 gallons of water in the course one year. You should also have any other leaking plumbing appliances and fixtures fixed, such as your home water heater. If you have an old leaking home water heater, then you should request for professional DC water heater repair services to have your unit fixed or replaced to avoid water loss.

Full Load Cleaning

You should always run full loads in your dishwashers and washing machines. Make sure that you load your clothes washer to the maximum capacity to save water. You should do the same with your dishwasher. Put all the dirty dishes that can fit in your dishwasher at once to avoid repeat cleanings that require more water.

Conservative Gardening

We use a lot of water in our gardening activities. Every time you turn on that garden hose to water you lawn, you will be using quite a massive amount of water. You can save lots of water by implementing several water saving gardening tips. Firstly, you should pick the right times to water your garden. Water your garden early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid water loss due to evaporation. You should also consider watering your plants with a watering can instead of a garden hose to save water. You should also plant water-wise plants in your garden to save water.