Tag: water

Don't Get Pinched By High Water Bills This St. Paddy's Day!

3 Ways To Conserve Water This Saint Patrick’s Day

Everyone celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in their own way - some hit the town and party it up, while others stay home and enjoy a nice dinner of corned beef and cabbage. But everyone upholds one tradition: wear something green or get pinched!

A similar rule (though not quite as festive or fun) applies to homeowners: save water or feel the pinch of inflated water bills! Even though homeowners may not realize it, many little things can add up to massive amounts of water waste every month. So this article will reveal a few of the most common causes of water waste - and how homeowners can avoid them!

Use the Tap Sparingly

tap waterOne of the most powerful ways to reduce water waste is to turn off the faucet whenever it’s not being used directly. The most obvious example of this is brushing one’s teeth - leaving the water on while brushing can send multiple gallons of water down the drain each time. The problem is less noticeable for things like handwashing or dishwashing - just turning off the tap while scrubbing or soaping can make a big difference for a day.

Another water-saving habit along these lines is to turn off the shower while lathering up or shampooing. The average shower lasts around 8 minutes and uses about 17 gallons of water, so leaving the water off for even a couple of minutes will significantly impact water usage. These habits may seem somewhat inconvenient at first, but with a little practice, homeowners can make a fun game of saving water wherever they can!

Invest In WaterSense Fixtures and Appliances

On top of reducing the time the home’s water taps stay on, homeowners can replace those taps with more water-efficient fixtures. The Environmental Protection Agency gives its “WaterSense” stamp of approval to fixtures that reach a certain water efficiency standard. 

For example, today’s standard sink faucets use 2.2 gallons per minute, while WaterSense faucets use only 1.5 gallons. WaterSense showerheads have a maximum flow rate of 2.0 GPM (gallons per minute), down from the 2.5 GPM of typical showerheads. Toilets are by far the biggest consumer of water in an average home. Still, upgrading to water-saving models (which use only 1.28 gallons per flush instead of 1.6 or more) can go a long way toward water conservation.

Upgrading to a high-efficiency washing machine or dishwasher can also have a lasting impact on water consumption and energy usage. These changes may require a bit of an upfront investment. Still, they can save homeowners money in the long run with the reduced utility bills - especially when combined with the other water conservation habits discussed here!

Flush With Care

toiletA clogged toilet is an annoying and unpleasant problem, but most people don’t realize that it can also waste a significant amount of water. When a toilet gets partially clogged, it can cause a pressure imbalance between the toilet bowl and the drain pipe, causing water to siphon out of the bowl. Homeowners may have noticed that their toilet bowl fills up to the normal level only to drain over time - this is the siphoning effect at work.

Homeowners will then need to refill the bowl for the toilet to flush properly, doubling the amount of water used per flush. Even without the siphoning effect, homeowners may need to flush multiple times to fully empty the toilet bowl since water is having trouble getting around the clog.

This is why preventing toilet clogs also helps conserve water in a roundabout way. Fortunately, preventing clogs is easy. First, homeowners should only ever flush toilet paper (and human waste, of course) down the toilet - that means no napkins, paper towels, tissues, hygiene products, contraceptives, or baby wipes. Secondly, homeowners should avoid flushing too much toilet paper at once - occasionally, flushing twice is better than clogging the toilet! And if the toilet does become clogged despite their best efforts, homeowners would do well to call a plumber to fix the problem as soon as possible, before any more water is wasted!

About All Pro Plumbing

All Pro Plumbing has been proudly serving the Lakeland community since 1996. Their commitment to outstanding customer service and unbeatable workmanship has earned them numerous 5-star ratings and awards, including the Angie’s List Super Service Award for 7 years. They offer up-front pricing, 24/7 emergency plumbing service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every job - so there’s no better choice for plumbers in Lakeland, FL!

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When is a Water Filtration System Important?

Water Filtration Benefits

Few things are as important as the water put inside a body. It’s easy to forget that water quality is so important since nearly everyone has constant access to safe drinking water, but safe drinking water still has some obvious drawbacks. 

Water quality is determined by local municipalities that follow government guidelines on water purification. As a general rule, citizens can rely on these guidelines to provide water free of biological agents. However, many other things can end up in water that affects the taste and safety. Even then, there are occasions when biological threats are found in drinking water. 

Instead of relying on guidelines to obtain safer water, take control of water resources. Water filtration systems can fill in the gaps left by municipal water treatment facilities and provide safe water in case of an outage. Here are a few reasons that water filtration devices, especially reverse osmosis systems, are excellent choices in every home. 

Safer Drinking Water water

As mentioned above, the water delivered to a home from municipal resources is rendered safe from biological threats. But, other threats lurking in the water are just as serious that the treatment facility doesn’t remove. Some of the common pollutants found in drinking water are:
  • Heavy metals like lead and arsenic
  • Treatment chemicals like chlorine and fluoride 
  • VOCs
  • Pesticides
  • Corrosive chemicals
  • Hardness minerals

Reverse osmosis water filters can remove all of these from water rendering it safer and better tasting. As a bonus, plumbing and appliances will last longer by not having to deal with subpar water supplies. 

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Save Money on Bottled Water 

The first thing people do when they don’t like their municipal water supply is buy bottled water. Despite the convenience of having a bottle of water to carry around, the habit of buying bottled water or installing a water cooler that uses jugs of water is the cost. Health experts recommend drinking about a gallon of water per person per day. All of that bottled water can add up quickly and put a strain on an already strained budget. 

In addition to not having to buy bottled water, water filters save money by protecting plumbing. Removing excess minerals from the water prevents corrosion and scale build-up in plumbing that can ruin piping and cause water pressure issues. 

Helps the Environment By Reducing Waste 

A bonus to installing a water filter is that it is eco-friendly. Buying bottled water contributes plastic waste to landfills totaling an estimated 60 million bottles per day in the US alone. These plastic bottles will be in landfills forever and contribute to huge ecological problems. 

Reverse osmosis water filters allow homeowners to provide clean water and fill up their bottles every day, reducing waste. These systems also use very little energy, so they can provide clean water without dirtying the air with carbon emissions. 

About All Pro Plumbing

Want fast access to unlimited clean and tasty water? All Pro Plumbing has over 25 years of experience helping locals get more from their water and protect their plumbing. Call today for an award-winning water filtration service in Lakeland, FL. 

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