Eco-Friendly Plumbing Tips
Living in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, you are sure to have a love of our amazing environment. No place offers more beauty and outdoor activities than we have right in our backyards. That is also why the residents in our communities strive to find more eco-friendly solutions when they are building their homes and selecting their appliances, fixtures, and household systems.
Going Green For Your Hot Water
Traditional water heaters are the second-largest consumers of energy in the average home, just behind the HVAC system. So when you are looking to make your home more eco-friendly, upgrading your water heater is the ideal choice. Solar and natural gas units are much more economical and beneficial to the planet than electric water heaters. However, the most eco-friendly units are tankless water heaters. These use only a fraction of the energy consumed by traditional tank-style water heaters. And equally as exciting for homeowners is that this upgrade will provide you with an endless supply of hot water.
Select The Best Machine For The Job
When you think about water and energy conservation, you could easily believe the common misconception that doing things the old-fashioned way is the best. It takes no energy to wash dishes by hand, and you might think it takes less water. However, an Energy Star rated dishwasher will complete an entire cycle using about 5 gallons of water. Washing by hand would use over 30 gallons for the same number of dishes. And the Energy Star label lets you know that these appliances are the most energy-efficient on the market.
When using your clothes washer, be sure only to wash full loads to maximize the benefit of the energy and water. Also, be sure to select cold water. This eliminates the energy needed to heat the water and is less damaging to the clothing fabric. Thanks to modern technology, you will find that cold water specific detergent cleans just as well as using hot water. Again, when you are ready for a new washing machine, be sure to shop for an Energy Star model.
Going Low-Flow
Low-flow does not need to mean a lower level of satisfaction from your showerhead, faucet, or even your toilet. Today's low-flow fixtures function using about half the water of the older versions but have used technology and improved hydraulics to keep the performance of these fixtures at or above the level of the older water hog versions.
Save Water And The Planet
A single leaking faucet in your home could be wasting hundreds of gallons of water each month. It is also essential to understand that minor leaks never remain small for very long. Soon the water will increase the damage to the fixture or pipe to create a more harmful leak that could lead to extensive water damage in your home.
Call 612-340-1444 to speak to the Paul Bunyan Plumbing And Drain's team as soon as you spot a dripping facet, leak, or have a question about other eco-friendly plumbing tips.