The population is growing more conscientious about conserving our natural resources. You can help do your part by making some simple changes in your home to help conserve water every day. Low-flow fixtures include sink faucets, showerheads and toilets that use less water per minute than older, traditional models. These low-flow fixtures use high-pressure techniques to use less water, but still do the job intended.
Low-Flow Showerheads
Low-flow showerheads have a flow rate of less than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) with a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. Some low-flow showerheads can provide a flow rate of less than 2.0 gpm. There are two basic types of low-flow showerheads:
- Laminar-flow – Laminar-flow showerheads form streams of water and will provide the homeowner with more-accurate temperature control.
- Aerating – This type of low-flow showerhead will mix water with air, which forms a misty water spray. This will create a great amount of steam and moisture, so they are not recommended in a humid climate.
Low-Flow Toilets
Low-flow toilets and ultra-low-flow toilets are designed to use half the amount of water of traditional toilets. They average 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) instead of 3.5 gpf. Some of these toilets have two flush options: one for liquid waste and one for solid waste. They solve the previous issues people were having with inadequate toilet flushing performance. Many of these low-flow toilets are designed to reduce clog problems, because they have larger drainage passage. The two main types of low-flow toilets are:
- Gravity-fed, low-flow toilets – This type of toilet uses the weight of the water to push the waste down the bowl. These tend to be less expensive and less noisy than pressure-assisted, low-flow toilets.
- Pressure-assisted, low-flow toilets – This type of toilet usually is noisier, but it can reduce water consumption by 45 percent, compared to gravity-fed toilets. This particular system uses air pressure built-up inside the tank to push the water down the drain.
The low-flow fixtures may require some upfront costs, but they can greatly reduce costs in the long run.