Markets today are flooded with many different kinds of plumbing fixtures. With increasing awareness on water conservation, fixture manufacturers have started designing these accessories with water conservation in mind. Even the consumers have started asking for plumbing accessories, which can help them save on their water bills.

Water saving toilets

One of main issues that people faced with the earlier models of water saving toilets was that, with a reduction in the amount of water used, the water pressure reduced too. This meant that toilets had to be flushed twice, which did not serve the purpose for which these toilets had been designed. With these issues rectified in the latest models, the toilets available in the market today use as less as 1.3 gallons of water for each flush, and still do a thorough job. Also available in the market these days is the dual flush toilet option. This model allows a person to use a .9 gallon flush knob or a 1.6 gallon flush knob depending on the requirement.

Efficient shower heads

Most of the earlier shower heads used around 2.5 gallons of water per minute during a shower. The newer shower head models boast of using just 1.7 gallons per minute. Over a short period of time, these models can result in significantly lowered water consumption. While previous efforts to reduce water consumption by making shower heads low-flow models resulted in the water pressure falling, same is not the case with the newer models in the market.

Water usage in bathrooms and kitchen

While installing new plumbing fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens can help, replacing broken or worn out fixtures is also a good step towards conserving water. A leaking tap, a broken pipe line or a damaged faucet, could all lead to water wastage, and fixing this could go a long way in saving water at home.

The economy is still working its way out of a bit of a recession, which means people are still being cautious with their spending. However, with the winter months approaching, it is important to ensure that your house is properly sealed so that minimal heat escapes from the house. Although it may seem like an added expense you may feel that is unnecessary, it is recommended that you get your house checked out.

On a positive note, in Alberta, home heating costs are predicted to remain the same this year as they did last year. According to 660News “Gas bills last winter averaged from about $80 a month in October to just over $200 last January.”

Most home owners have already set aside a budget that incorporates an increase in heating costs for the winter. This will now be “extra” money as the costs will likely not increase. Back to the above comment, if homeowners get their house checked to ensure minimal heat loss for the winter, then they could save even more money. Their gas bills may turn out to be even lower than they were last year.

As a homeowner, you are no doubt concerned about the quality of your drinking water. Filters provide a viable and very cost-conscious option that will provide you with quality water right from your own tap. There are numerous types of home water filtration systems on the market, which makes choosing the best one for your particular situation a challenging undertaking. And while high-end water filtration systems offer top notch performance, there are budget-friendly water filtration systems that can serve the purpose of filtering your water without breaking the bank. Let’s look at the 4-1-1 on water filtration for your modern home.

Under the Sink Water Filtration Systems

A popular option for home water purification is the under the sink filtration system. This system is permanently installed beneath the sink and produces very high quality water without a ton of maintenance requirements. Although these types of systems are a bit expensive, they are nonetheless convenient and perform very well. And because most water sources are tested on a regular basis for common contaminants, the under the sink water filtration system is sufficient to ensure the health of your water. If, however, the water that you wash your clothing in, brush your teeth in, and bathe in comes from a well source, then this system may not be a good choice for you as it is not as comprehensive as your needs require.

Point of Entry Water Filtration Systems

The point of entry water filtration system is installed at the point where water comes into your home and it works to filter all of the water that enters. This type of system is usually purchased by those who are very concerned about the health of their drinking water, and the water that they wash their clothing (and themselves) in, as well as the water that they cook with. Most people who choose a point of entry water filtration system have well water, although it can be used for city or municipal water as well. Well water that comes into the home has not been tested for contaminants like municipal water, and although many wells are perfect and have clean, delicious tasting and healthy water, others are not as optimal for drinking and some may be unsafe for you and/or your plumbing system. The point of entry water filtration system is a good way to be certain that your well water is clean and safe for you and your family and it can also remove harmful mineral deposits that make your water smell or taste foul, or that can damage your pipes and plumbing.

Methods of Water Filtration

These home purification and water filtration systems vary in how they filter your water. The most common ways that water is filtered with these filtration systems include:

• Reverse osmosis and UV. These methods utilize membrane filters or ultra-violet light to remove contaminants from your water. They can also be useful in treating the water’s condition, such as when you have water that is too hard or too soft. The basic system of water filtration that uses reverse osmosis and ultra-violet light is a few hundred dollars while more high-tech systems may cost a couple of thousand dollars. These are pricey systems, but they work well and are worth the cost.
• Ion-exchange. For hard water that is caused by a high level of magnesium and calcium, the ion-exchange system is useful. Hard water not only tastes horrible, it can also ruin your water heater and other appliances that use water. Hard water also turns your laundry a dingy color, and can make your hair and body take on a metallic, sulfur-type smell. Ion exchange works by passing hard water over an ion-exchange bed and transforming the calcium to sodium. This makes the water softer and better for use in all purposes.

Picture it. You’re lathered up in the shower, conditioner in your hair, ready to begin your morning when all of a sudden the hot water is hot no more, but icy, cold water is being piped unmercifully through instead. What a wakeup call! We’ve all experienced shower shock at one time or another. Or perhaps you turn on the hot water to wash your hands and find that the water is scalding hot. Both of these instances can happen when you have a traditional tank-style water heater in your home – and most homes have them. A tankless water heater, however, is a better approach to heating water for the home. And they are becoming more and more popular, not just because they eliminate shower shock, but because they are inexpensive to operate and can pay for themselves by way of reduced energy bills.

How They Work

A tankless water heater is a very small unit that is usually hung on the side of the home and that is preset to a specific temperature. When you turn the water on in your home, a special device in the tankless water heater is activated by the flowing water, and the heater is then triggered to flash heat the water. The tankless water heater heats water only as it is being used. This eliminates keeping dozens of gallons of water hot and on the ready, which means that you’re not going to be paying to keep water hot while you’re not even home or when you’re not using water. Tank-style water heaters are expensive to operate because the water is kept at a specific temperature continuously, whether you’re at home or vacationing thousands of miles away. That’s wasted money.

An Efficient Water Heater and a Fatter Wallet

Because the tankless water heater does not need to consistently and continually reheat the water that you use, the amount of energy that it expends is nominal. The traditional tank-style water heater must cycle on and off, even if you’re not at home, and keeping water hot can use up a lot of energy. The tankless water heater only works when hot water is demanded at the tap. And since the traditional tank-style heater must constantly warm water up throughout the day, the water can sometimes become overheated in the tank’s effort to avoid running out of water. This is why the temperature of the water coming from a tank-style heater is not consistent, and why you sometimes experience water that is simply too hot coming out of the faucet. And because the tank-style heater can only heat a particular amount of water at one time, you are prone to shower shock when the hot water runs out before you’re finished showering or bathing. With a tankless water heater, hot water is limitless because it is heated on demand.

There are many reasons to choose a tankless water heater. The tankless hot water heater can save you as much as fifty percent when it comes time to pay your energy bills each month. It is energy-efficient and takes up very little room, unlike the bulky tank-style water heater. Most tankless heaters come with a lifetime warranty, whereas tank-style heaters usually last for around ten years. And because you are not storing a large quantity of water, the tankless heater has no leaks to worry with. Finally, the cost of purchasing and installing a tankless water heater in your home may be offset in some areas of the country by local, state, or federal tax cuts and rebates due to its eco-friendliness. Tankless water heaters are available in both electric and gas models. For these reasons and more, the tankless water heater is a growing choice that is destined to become even more popular in the future.

More and more homeowners are going for the dual flush toilet when they are looking to make “green”, environmentally-friendly upgrades to the modern home. The dual flush toilet, as the name suggests, gives you the option of choosing from two different flushing modes, depending on what type of “material” you are trying to flush. Simply put, it takes much less water to flush away liquids than it does solids, so it makes sense to use a low-volume flush sometimes and a high-volume flush at other times. Dual flush toilets will cut the usage of water for toileting purposes which not only saves money on the water bill, but cuts down on the use of a precious natural resource as well.

Dual Flush Toilets – Required in Some Places!

Although one might not consider that the dual flush toilet can actually save a significant amount of water to make the installation of one a wise investment, the truth is that studies of this type of toilet have shown that the dual flush toilet can reduce the use of water for toileting by as much as sixty-seven percent in some households. In fact, because there is such a high level of water conservation to be reaped through the installation of the dual flush toilet, the country of Australia (which is in an ongoing draught situation) has passed legislation that required that all new toilets installed within the country are dual flush. There are also some drought-stricken areas of the U.S. where similar statutes have been passed in order to conserve water. Although the dual flush toilet has not been on the market that long (a little over ten years), they are destined to become more and more prevalent as the world’s becomes more environmentally-conscious of their consumption of natural resources.

Stylish Options

Other than the water saving capacity of the dual flush toilet, another big advantage to installing this type of toilet is that they are designed with innovation in mind, and they are available in many attractive models. This is a relatively new product to today’s market, and the market is thus very competitive with companies competing to make their models as visually pleasing, comfortable, and easy to use as possible to attract customers. Newest models of the dual flush toilets feature two buttons (one for low volume and one for high volume flushing) which is a bit of an upgrade over the styles that come with a push or pull handle.

The one big disadvantage to the dual flush toilet is the more advanced requirements for installation that are usually not within the realm of the average do-it-yourself homeowner. Most homeowners will need to call out a professional plumber to ensure that the toilet is properly installed, which can add to the cost of installation. There are, however, many guides available online, and each dual flush toilet will be packaged with installation instructions. Regardless of the added cost for professional installation, the dual flush toilet is a great option for areas of the country where there are chronic water shortages and for anyone who wants to make a difference in the condition of the planet by making wise use of its resources.

If you are looking to save money and give the planet a break by consuming less energy, then green heating options are your best bet. There are some great alternative ways to heat your home on today’s market.

Heat Your Modern Home with Green Heating Alternatives

More and more homeowners are hopping on the “green” bandwagon – choosing alternative products and services based on their eco-friendly properties. Going green when you heat your home will not only help you to save on your electricity bill, but it will also mean that you use less energy, which equals fewer carbon emissions. And even though it is a bit more expensive to install some of the better green alternatives on the market, the pay off in reduced costs for home energy make them a wise investment that cannot be overlooked. In many instances, the government at the federal, provincial, or local level via tax credits and rebates subsidizes green upgrades.

Is This a Viable Option for You?

While green heating is a great choice, it is definitely not for everyone. When determining if green heating options are ideal for your home, factors like the local climate, the availability of fuels that are required to power the heating system, and the difficulty of installation in your particular home also come into play. Most options for green heating will also heat the water that is used within the home as well, which is another plus that must be factored into the equation when determining if green heating is a viable option for your home.

Common Alternative Heating Options

The three most common green heating systems are solar heat, geothermal heat, and radiant flooring. Each of these systems have their advantages and drawbacks. It is important, however, to remember that even traditional fuels, like natural gas, for example, can be considered planet-friendly when they are used in the optimal environment. Let’s look at the three top alternative green heating methods in more detail.

• Solar heat. A solar heating system is a great green choice in certain situations. Solar heat can be passive or active heat. A passive system relies solely on the design of the home to collect heat, while the active solar heating system consists of solar collection panels, storage tanks, hat pumps and more that collect solar heat and disburse it throughout your home.
• Geothermal heat. The earth’s heat is harnessed in a geothermal system to heat the home. Pipes are run beneath the ground to a particular depth within the earth where the temperature is a constant. Then, a special fluid within the pipes absorbs the heat and is pumped back into a heat exchanger within the home where the heat is extracted and disbursed throughout the home.
• Radiant floor heat. This type of system uses heat that comes through the floor as electricity or hot air. This is a very popular choice among homeowners because it keeps the home (and the floor beneath the feet) warm while keeping energy costs low.

These top three choices in green heating alternatives are not the only ones on the market for you to choose from when you are shopping for a new heating system or wishing to upgrade your existing system. The trend of choosing greener products is not going anywhere soon, and in all likelihood, will only continue to increase in the years ahead. These heating systems will put you on the forefront of green heating.

Saving water, one of the most important natural resources, has many benefits. You not only save on your water bills, but also meaningfully contribute towards the environment. Saving water at home is not as difficult as it may sound. Just follow a few simple best practices and you will be able to save significantly on your water bills. Here are a few things that you can do:

• Check for leaking faucets and get them repaired immediately.
• Don’t keep the tap water running as you brush your teeth; this is one of the easiest ways to save water.
• If you are washing dishes by hand, make sure you make optimum use of water without keeping the tap running all the time.
• Xeriscape your garden using an irrigation system that uses minimal amount of water.
• Make sure that you don’t keep the water sprinkler in your garden running all the time.
• Employ rain water harvesting techniques to re-use the collected rain water for several household purposes other than drinking.

Educate you children and your community about water conservation and lead by example. Water is a valuable resource and it’s becoming increasingly important to conserve it, as the water tables around the world recede year after year. So don’t hesitate and do your bit for the cause.

It may sound strange, but it’s true. The issue at hand was the amount of water used by conventional flushes in residential toilets. Hardly a matter of concern for a government, you think? Well, the policy makers deemed it was time to end wasteful water usage in toilets and hence the intervention.

The government passed an order through the National Energy Policy Act in 1995 wherein a 1.6 gallon limit was set for toilet flushes rather than the 3.5 gallon flushes, which were commonplace back then. The policy changed a lot of things, many of them for the worse. Manufacturers were suddenly pressured into making available the alternatives to the existing 3.5 gallon flushes, which would function just as effectively.

Naturally, glitches were bound to crop up and they did. By the time manufacturers came up with a viable, efficient and workable flushing solution that met government specifications, a significant sum of money, time and effort had literally gone down the drain. After a lot of research, consultations and design tests with trial versions, manufacturers did finally come up with 1.6 gallon flushes.

Whether the government’s predilection to interfere in these issues actually results in any kind of benefit- monetary or ecological, remains a matter of opinion. It is evident, though, that the average person has definitely been caught at the wrong side of the fence again. He had to incur the expenses of replacing his toilet flush, and probably also had to indirectly pay a share of the costs of the effort that went into developing these new products.

In these financially difficult times, chances are you are looking for ways to either add to your monthly income or save more money each month. It could be through a second job, cutting down on grocery bills, postponing clothes shopping or in some other way. There is one unlikely source that can help you add to your savings – your house’s plumbing system.

The plumbing in your home makes a huge difference to your water bills. There are many ways in which good and water efficient plumbing systems can save you money.

You can begin with replacing all your flushes with low flow toilet flushes. These smart devices can save as much as 14 thousand gallons of water a year for a family of four. Keep this in mind when you consider the price of replacing your old water guzzling flush with an efficient, low flow model.

The low flow flush has another cost efficient cousin – the low flow showerhead. It gives an output of 2.5 gallons of water a minute, giving you instant savings of about 2 gallons per minute. Your net savings in water can soar up to 20 thousand gallons a year.

Include that into cost savings in your water bill and you will see a significant sum saved there. The best part is, when you let your house’s plumbing system help you save money, you not only save but also do your bit towards conserving water. So ‘Go Green’ and save on your water bills with smart plumbing solutions!

When the government decided to bring in a policy in 1995, limiting the amount of water used in toilet flushes, it took the skill and expertise of many leading engineering gurus to come up with solutions, which would keep the government happy and houses from not stinking owing to improper flush function.

Strange as it sounds, it did take considerable engineering skill to develop a flush that would effectively flush, and would still be in line with the government’s water conservation policy. Many manufacturers jumped the gun when the law was passed and palmed off the regular flushes with some tweaks and adjustments to use only the stipulated 1.6 gallons of water. Water conservationists were ecstatic and so were the government officials who considered this a job well done.

The home owners and residents, who were the actual users, would however beg to differ because the products simply did not do the job. In fact, the redesigned flushes failed dismally and literally caused a stink. It took many more hours of research and engineering to get the product right.

Today, there are toilet flush manufacturers who employ PhDs and aerospace engineers in their design departments. But the results are there for everyone to see and the flushing solutions seem to be working. So, if your home sports a neat, compact, water conserving flush, you may just have a top notch engineer to thank for it.