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Upgrading your plumbing is the perfect opportunity for you to cut down on your family’s energy and water costs. With bills rising for families, taking on the plumbing upgrade project and assessing plumbing upgrade options can be a great way to save money and improve plumbing performance. Let’s explore five plumbing upgrades that offer the best return on investment for energy performance over the years ahead.
The benefits of tankless water heaters are numerous. They have a smaller footprint, suitable for installation in smaller homes and stratas. They also provide an endless supply of hot water for the family, as opposed to storage heaters that have limits due to the capacity of their tank. However, one of the most valuable benefits offered by tankless water heaters is their energy efficiency. The top models start at an energy factor of 0.94, which means that 94% of the energy they consume is for heating.
The data shows the average 10-year-old dishwasher uses 10 to 15 gallons of water per washing cycle. Meanwhile, the latest Energy Star-qualified dishwashers only use 4 gallons of water per cycle. You can save at least 6 gallons of water each time you use your dishwasher by replacing your older model unit. Selecting a dishwasher for your home requires coordination with your local plumber to find the right equipment size to meet the demand and available space.
The latest low-flow toilets save thousands of gallons of water per year over traditional models, helping you reduce your water costs considerably. The average toilet consumes 7 gallons of water per flush. Meanwhile, low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. As technology improves, you’ll barely notice the difference between the performance of traditional toilets and low-flow systems. The one significant change will be to your home water costs.
Faucet replacement throughout the home is one of the most affordable ways to reduce water use costs. Low-flow faucets reduce water consumption by 30%. When you scale this number to each faucet in the home, there’s the potential to save thousands of gallons of water. Your local plumber can complete a faucet replacement within a few minutes in the home, helping you reduce your costs without equipment downtime.
For an older home, most water usage costs can arise through leaking pipes. Pipes made from metal such as copper, steel, and cast iron can corrode and leak when exposed to oxygen, water, and acids within the water supply. This corrosion causes small cracks through which water can leak. If a leak has been developing over a period of several years, it could be a source of significant water loss. If you’re noticing water costs are rising over a period of several months without a clear source for the increase, book a pipe inspection from your nearest experienced plumber.
Lew Plumbing & Heating continues to set the highest standards for energy efficiency within our equipment options and plumbing installation services. Owned and operated by Master Plumber Gord Lew, we can tailor a high-efficiency plumbing upgrade to meet the demand within your home as well as to fit the space available within your property.
For plumbing services in Vancouver, Burnaby, and across the Lower Mainland, call Lew Plumbing & Heating at 604-205-9436.
