Plumber Tips That Will Save You Money | Carrollton, TX
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Life is expensive, and no one wants to spend more than they have to. You make efforts to save money in most areas of your life, but have you considered how plumbing tips can save you money? We’ve gathered the best money-saving tips from some expert plumbers so we could pass on the knowledge to you. These tips range from small to large changes, but the payoff is always worth it. Read through them all and decide which ones will work for you!
Use Low-flow Faucets
Have you heard the expression ‘money down the drain?’ Well, when it comes to plumbing, it becomes a literal expression. Most of us know not to leave the water running as we brush our teeth or to let the shower run for a few minutes before we get in. But, you can take this mindset one step further by installing low flow faucets. A low flow faucet can reduce water usage anywhere between 20-50 percent per year. It achieves this by either lowering the output of water from around 2.2 gallons per minute down to 1.5 or by mixing in air with the water.
Call your plumber and test our low-flow on your faucets first. If you don’t mind the experience, consider installing a low-flow showerhead too. A conventional 10-minute shower can use up to as much as 42 gallons of water. Alternatively, a low-flow showerhead can reduce water consumption by up to half!
Repair or Replace Your Leaky Toilet
So, you have a leaky toilet. Maybe you have left it alone because the toilet seems to be working perfectly fine, so you didn’t think it warranted a call to the plumber. That is not the case. A leaky toilet is a drain on your energy bills. A dripping toilet that has to refill every 20 minutes can waste as much as 7,000 gallons of water per month. That is hurting both your wallet and the planet!
Call a plumber to come and inspect your toilet. A professional will always opt for a repair over replacement if they believe it’s the best option. And, a repair may be less than you’re paying in utility bill overcharges over the months! Even if your toilet does need a replacement, this is something you need to address at some point. You may as well fix your toilet now rather than delaying it and waiting for more plumbing issues to occur.
Replace Your Water Heater Every 10 Years
After a water heater is more than 10 years old, it stops working at prime efficiency. As a result, older models have to work harder for expected output and start to drain gas or electricity each month. If you can afford the upfront cost, consider upgrading to a tankless water heater. This model only heats water as needed, versus keeping a tank of water hot at all times, which results in lower utility bills.
If you can’t afford to replace your water heater at this time, consider calling a plumber every six months for a tank drain. This will allow the tank to be flushed of any impurities and improve the appliance’s overall performance.
Check Your Water Heater for Leaks
A water leak can result in significant water loss for your home. Unfortunately, water leaks can often be challenging to detect. Your water meter runs from the outside waterline to a small metered box outside of your home. As the water travels to your home, another meter controls the water flow. Make sure to check this area for leaks periodically. If you see the meter turning even though water isn’t flowing into your home, it could be a sign of a water leak.
If you suspect you may have a water leak, call a professional for inspection and repair. Along with costing you more in utilities, a water leak can damage your plumbing, floors, appliances, or the structural integrity of your home.
Understand How to Use a Garbage Disposal
Despite the name it’s been given, your garbage disposal isn’t a secondary trash chute. Speak with any plumber and they’ll tell you that one of the most frequent calls they get is for garbage disposal repair. And, that’s simply because people don’t understand some basic rules of using their garbage disposal.
Your garbage disposal should only be used for minor, small food scraps. The following items should never be thrown down the disposal:
- Oil, fat, or grease. All of these substances are hot when in liquid form. However, as they touch the cold pipes and cool, they harden. Often, fat will set when it’s deep in the lines and form a clog. If this happens, a plumber will need to be called for drain cleaning.
- Starchy vegetables like potato peels are too thick for your garbage disposal.
- Chicken bones are too strong and hard and can damage or break the garbage disposal.
- Fibrous vegetables, like celery, can sometimes have their strands catch on the disposal and clog the apparatus.
- The membrane of eggshells can catch onto the disposal and clog it up.
Get A Professional Inspection
Did you know that plumbers can come in for a general inspection? An expert plumber can examine your entire home to see if there’s anywhere where you’re wasting water (and therefore wasting money). By finding and fixing leaks early on, you reduce the risk of a small problem spiraling into a bugger, more expensive issue.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
The residents of Carrollton, TX, have been trusting bluefrog Plumbing + Drain for their plumbing needs for many years. Our professionals are proud to provide the best in quality plumbing repairs, inspections, and installations. No matter what your plumbing issue is, big or small, we’re here to help.
Book a plumbing inspection with us today to find out if your water usage can be improved. Chances are, you have room for improvement!
We serve all of Carrollton, TX, and the surrounding areas, so call to book an appointment today.
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