Plumbing Upgrades For Your Cleveland Home
If you live in an older home in the Cleveland area it’s quite likely that some of the plumbing systems or fixtures in your home are quite old. If that’s the case you be spending more money on your energy and water bills then necessary. Plumbing technologies continually improve and some of the plumbing systems for modern homes operate much more efficiently than their previous counterparts. There are several things a homeowner can do to upgrade their plumbing to make it more efficient and also increase convenience and comfort.
Consider Low Flow Faucets
Low flow faucets of the past usually left many homeowners disappointed with the lack of water pressure, especially when you want to have a nice hot shower and nothing but a weak spray is coming out of the shower head. Low flow faucets of today offer an excellent showering experience and can seriously help you reduce your water consumption, while still offering a great showering experience that won’t leave you feeling underwhelmed. Low flow faucets are also great to install for the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, and in the laundry room sink too.
Consider A Digital Shower Controller
Showers and baths are one of those luxury activities we often take for granted and we usually don’t want to sacrifice the quality of that experience just to save a little bit of water. Digital shower controllers are a great way to save water without sacrificing the quality of your showering experience. With a digital shower controller you can more precisely control the flow of water and the temperature which makes turning the hot/cold taps back and forth just to get it “right” an obsolete practice. There are many different digital shower controllers available on the market depending on your budget and how luxurious your taste is.
Upgrade To A Tankless Water Heater
If natural gas is available in your area or already hooked up to your home then it might be time to consider upgrading your water heater from a standard “tanked” water heater to a much more modern and efficient “tankless” water heater or “on-demand water heater”. With a traditional water heater your hot water tank feeds how water into the plumbing lines where it eventually cools down and then when you turn on the hot water faucet it can take several seconds to over a minute until you have hot water again.
Tankless systems are more efficient because they heat the water “on demand” when you need it and they don’t waste a bunch of energy trying to heat and store the hot water continuously. When coupled with an on-demand circulation pump you have hot water at almost the instant you turn the hot side of faucet. How is that for convenience? Tankless water heating systems definitely have a higher upfront installation cost but they are very worthwhile upgrades for an older home and can last much longer than a traditional water heater.
Upgrade Old Or Deteriorated Piping
The plumbing system in your home has lots of piping to transfer water (and waste water) throughout your home, the materials used for piping in a home 40-50 years ago is much different from the modern piping we use today. If your home used cast iron, or even orangeburg piping you could be in for a surprise one day as the pipes break down and deteriorate. Unseen plumbing leaks can waste significant amounts of water and are usually very costly to repair. Not all plumbing pipes are easily replaced though so it usually comes down to a financial choice and whether you can afford it or not.
If your plumbing system is constantly backing up, or you notice unusually high water bills, or any pooling in your yard or on your property then a camera inspection is on order. A professional plumber with a proper sewer inspection camera can tell you a lot about the condition of your plumbing system and offer up some suggestions to repair the problem.
Upgrade Your Toilet To A Dual Flush Toilet
Flushing the toilet in your home can account for up to 30% of a households total water use. If you’re hooked up to city water you’re paying for all that water and it can be significantly reduced by upgrading your toilets to more efficient water saving models or even a dual flush toilet. A dual flush toilet is a toilet with two buttons that allow to choose two different flush settings. One button will be for a larger flush designed to remove solid waste and the other button is used for liquid waste which obviously requires much less water to “flush” out of the toilet and into your septic or sewer system.
Consider Upgrading Older Appliances
Energy saving appliances have been popular for a number of years now and their technology has improved by leaps and bounds. If you have an older dishwasher or washing machine you’re probably wasting quite a bit of water and energy. New energy star rated appliances can cut your water and electricity use significantly and will still do a fantastic job of washing your dishes and your clothes.
Consider Installing A Pressure Reducing Valve
Many Cleveland area households use a lot more water than needed because there is just too much pressure in their water system. Reducing the water pressure in your pipes by a 10-20 PSI will go unnoticed by most households and it can considerably reduce the amount of water you use without sacrificing convenience. Depending on your plumbing system this may or may not be possible but a qualified plumber will be able to tell you with a simple site visit.
1st Choice Plumbing And Drain Can Help You Upgrade Your Plumbing Systems
1st Choice Plumbing And Drain is one of the Cleveland areas top choice for plumbers and we specialize in helping households reduce their water and energy consumption by offering “green” plumbing solutions. We can come to your home and inspect your existing plumbing systems and come up with a plan to help you reduce your footprint on the environment.
If you’d like to schedule an energy saving consultation for your home please call 440-812-1888 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.
