Easy Water-Saving Bathroom Upgrades

Easy Water-Saving Bathroom Upgrades

Did you know that between the toilet, shower, and sink, your bathroom accounts for nearly 60% of your home’s water usage? Many people are unaware of the amount of water that their bathroom actually uses.  With water scarcity estimated to affect 2/3 for the global population by 2025, water costs are bound to increase. Make a water-saving change and an investment in the future, without sacrificing performance. Read about the three bathroom upgrades that have a positive impact on your wallet and the world.

Change Your Shower Head
It’s easy to waste water in the shower—many of us use the shower to relax or perhaps leave the water running as we wait for it to warm. While taking shorter showers can definitely help with water conservation, new energy-efficient showerheads can help reduce water waste without sacrificing enjoyment.

Products with the WaterSense label are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help save water and are worth consideration as you search for the right products for your home. Showerheads labeled “low flow” are another option for your bathroom reno, as they deliver 2.5 gpm instead of the wasteful 5 gpm of older showerheads.

Replace Your Old ToiletThe toilet is the most water-wasteful piece of plumbing in most homes. In fact, nearly 1/3 of a household’s total water consumption is flushed down the toilet. They can use as much as 7 gallons per flush! Fortunately, toilet technology has come a long way in the past few decades. Newer energy-saving models can reduce water waste by up to 67%. There are three main types of water-efficient toilets:

1. Low Flow Toilets
2. Dual Flush Toilets
3. Pressure Assist Toilets

Some toilets use a combination of low flow, dual flush, and pressure assist to create a conservation-friendly commode. Low flow toilets are designed to use significantly less water than older models, whereas duel flush toilets customize each flush for either solid or liquid waste. Pressure-assist toilets use an air cartridge to push water from the tank, which means using as little as one gallon per flush. With thousands of gallons a year in water savings at stake, a toilet reno is a must for water-conscious homeowners.

Fact: HomeAdvisor surveyed homeowners and found that replacing a toilet cost an average of $377. Compare that to save up to $2,200 over its lifespan, and that’s more than a 550% return on investment.

Install a Low-Flow Faucet Aerator

Although a sink doesn’t seem to use as much water as the shower or toilet, it can pour out around 3 gallons of water per minute (gpm). Those extra gallons add up, especially if occasionally forget to turn off the sink while you shave or brush your teeth. By taking the steps to install a low-flow faucet aerator on your bathroom sink, you can cut your water waste in half, reducing it by as much as 1,400 gallons per year. Purchasing an aerator for your sink is one of the cheapest conservation renovations you can make, with aerators available for as little as $1.