The average family uses approximately 300 gallons of water per day (about 30 percent of that usage is outdoor) according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. From showers and toilets to washing machines, dishwashers and more, that’s a lot of water.
Winters Home Services, an award-winning provider of plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality services to residents throughout the greater Boston area, advises homeowners on how to reduce water and energy consumption and save money. Since the bathroom is where the most water is consumed on a daily basis, Winters offers these tips:
Replace older showerhead models – There’s a much higher cost associated with older showerheads, which use more than five gallons of water per minute. Not only is water wasted, it puts a lot of demand on your water heater and drives up energy bills. Nowadays, the ultra low-flow showerhead models (displaying the WaterSense label) use only two gallons of water per minute and perform better than ever.
Save water and time spent cleaning – Consider upgrading your toilet to one that uses less water per flush. The Department of Energy standard is one point six gallons per flush, but if you have an older toilet, you may be using well over three gallons per flush. There are many options available that use a lot less water and have the added benefit of staying cleaner longer. Some of the most innovative models on the market today include TOTO’s Double Cyclone that uses a little over one and a quarter gallons per flush and has a dual nozzle water propulsion system (ensuring that cleaner bowl) to TOTO’s eWater+, which utilizes electrolyzed water (a proven disinfectant), reducing the need for harsh cleaning chemicals.
Don’t waste water waiting for it to heat up – We’ve all been there. If you turn on the sink or shower and wait anywhere from 30 seconds to over a minute for the water to heat up, precious gallons of clean water (and your money) go down the drain. Consider replacing your traditional storage water heater with a Tankless Water Heater or installing a Hot Water Recirculating System. Either one will ensure immediate delivery of hot water when you need it and provide significant water and energy savings.
Fix those leaks – If you have a leaky faucet, toilet or pipe in your home, fix it immediately before it becomes a bigger and more expensive problem. Even if it’s a slow leak, it can account for more than 10 percent of your water usage, which means a significant amount of your money (like the water) trickles out of your pocket over time. If you don’t know if you have a leak, your water meter readings are the clue. When water is not in use, check the meter twice in a two-hour time span. If the readings change, then there is a leak somewhere in your home.
Monitor, measure and control your systems with new technology – Winters’ state-of-the-art CarePlus Home Monitoring program enables homeowners to monitor, measure and access the most important systems – from water sensors (which can detect leaks and usage), home energy meters, and carbon monoxide detectors to thermostats, lights, door locks and more- through any Smart device. It’s one of the easiest ways to conserve energy and maximize savings.
For more helpful information or to learn about the CarePlus Home Monitoring program, visitwintershomeservices.com.
About Winters Home Services
Founded in 1994, Winters Home Services is an award-winning service company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in plumbing, heating, cooling, drain cleaning and air quality services. Offering the first-to-market CarePlus Home Monitoring Program and lifetime guarantees on many of their services, the company focuses on high quality workmanship and consistent world-class customer service. Winters Home Services promises to fulfill the needs of every customer with a sense of urgency, ensuring comfort, safety and well-being.
Winters Home Services is one of the largest residential plumbing companies in the greater Boston-area with a large fleet on the road and a full staff of licensed and insured plumbers and technicians.
Dedicated to supporting the community, Winters is a sponsor of the Duckling Day Parade annual Mother’s Day event and a partner of the Friends of the Public Garden, a non-profit organization that works to protect and improve Boston’s first public parks: the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The company is an ongoing supporter of events at Club Café.
For more information, call 866-482-7586 or visit wintershomeservices.com.
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