Tag: house

How to go Green With Your Home’s Plumbing

If you’re wondering what you can do around the house to help support the planet, or perhaps leave a smaller carbon footprint with your home, then don’t forget to take a look at your plumbing system. Nowadays there are a lot of eco-friendly plumbing options available for those people who want to be greener.

The Right Pipes Matter to The Environment

If you’re replacing pipes in your home, there are some good and bad choices you can make to help your home be more eco-friendly. Many pipe materials have pros and cons so it’s important to educate yourself on the following:

• Copper pipes are readily and easily recyclable. So much so that upwards of 80% of the copper piping in use today has been recycled at one point or another. Copper pipes don’t require solvent-based adhesives, which can be toxic to people and the environment.
• Iron pipes are fantastic because they’re made from 100% recycled material. No mining needed! And like copper pipes, they don’t need toxic, solvent-based adhesives and are also recyclable. But also, like copper, they will corrode faster than plastic, which lessens their lifespan and can pollute the environment.
• PVC Pipes are common plastic pipes that are really cheap to produce and have a really long lifespan. But because they can’t be recycled, they end up in landfills. They require toxic, solvent-based adhesives to join and producing them emits harmful toxins into the environment
• PEX pipes, or Cross-Linked Polyethylene Tubing, is plastic-like PVC but doesn’t use toxic adhesives. They’re also quieter than PVC or copper and have a long lifespan. But as of right now they can’t be recycled.

Familiarizing yourself with the different piping materials available will help you make the best choice for your home and the planet.

Focus on Bathroom Plumbing

The bathroom uses a lot of water and is often the place where you should focus your efforts if you’re trying to make your plumbing, and home, greener.

Taking fewer baths and showers per week will not only save more water, but it can also save you money on your monthly water bill. To save even more cash consider installing a low flow toilet which uses less water per flush.

Even better: choose a dual flush toilet. These low flow toilets have two flushing options, one for solid waste and one for liquid, allowing the toilet to use more or less water, as needed.

If you’ve lived with a small leak from your sink faucet, now’s the time to break out the DIY plumbing skills or call your local plumber to fix the issue. Even a few drips a day can add up to a lot of wasted water over the lifetime of the faucet.

Don’t Forget to Go Outside

While converting your home to more green plumbing alternatives, don’t forget to examine your outdoor plumbing systems to see what can be done outside.

If you live in an area where you find yourself having to constantly water your lawn to keep it thriving, consider reseeding with a lawn type that works better with less water or consider replacing your lawn entirely with plants and rocks that require little watering.

If you’re a gardener, rain barrels can be a huge lifesaver when it comes to watering your plants. The rain provides free water, stored for whenever you need to use it, saving you money and the planet at the same time.

Check for any small leaks, especially around outdoor faucets, and consider adding Teflon tape to hose connectors to eliminate any leaking at the connection. And if you have a pool, use a solar cover to help heat it and prevent evaporation, limiting how often you have to add more water. Any and all of these steps can help your home become the eco-friendly residence you’re looking for.

Contact Patriot Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc.

Patriot Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. serves the Wenatchee, WA area for all your home needs. They’re local experts who offer flat-rate pricing, 24/7 live answer for emergencies, and on-time arrival. Don’t forget to check out their online discount for new customers or become a VIP member for even more savings.

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