Making Your Home’s Plumbing Actually Work For You
Most folks don’t think about their plumbing until something fails to work properly. A pipe ruptures, the water heater dies, or the water pressure is reduced to a mere trickle. However, plumbing has an effect on more than just turning on a faucet. Your home’s plumbing system will affect your utility bills, the length of life of your appliances, and the overall comfort level in your home.
A large number of homes are currently operating on plumbing systems that are functioning, but are not functioning at peak levels. They are simply making do. This "making do" results in increased costs and inconvenience to homeowners.
The Reality Regarding Water Quality No One Thinks About
When individuals think of plumbing issues, they typically think of a leak, or a clog. Individuals rarely think about what is actually in the water that is flowing through the pipes. While municipal water treatment operates according to the laws that govern it, the laws governing municipal water treatment are primarily concerned with ensuring public health and safety rather than water quality. As such, the water that enters into most homes contains minerals, chlorine, sediments, and possibly trace amounts of metal that have accumulated from deteriorating municipal water infrastructure.
While this is not concerning with respect to major contaminations that make headlines, it is the typical accumulation of contaminants that result in the gradual deterioration of your plumbing fixtures, the deposit of minerals in your water heater, and the degradation of your coffee flavor. Hard water is likely the most common offender – as it is the presence of calcium and magnesium in the water that results in the formation of white mineral deposits on faucets and shower heads. Over time, the same minerals that result in the deposits on your faucets and shower heads accumulate in the walls of your pipes and appliances, ultimately reducing the efficiency of your appliances, and resulting in the premature demise of your appliances.
Installing a home water filtration system addresses the root cause of the issue, protecting the integrity of both your plumbing system and all of the appliances associated with it. The water filtration system represents one of those upgrades that provides dividends across multiple aspects of your home, and is not solely focused on addressing one specific issue.
How Much Does Water Pressure Really Matter?
Low water pressure is frustrating, however, inconsistent water pressure results in far greater frustration. When the water pressure varies greatly, it puts stress on pipe fittings and connections, which may ultimately result in the development of a leak. High water pressure is also detrimental to the plumbing system – excessive water pressure may damage the valves in your appliances, cause your toilets to continually operate, and degrade the rubber washers and gaskets in your plumbing system.
The majority of homes do not possess a pressure regulator installed, or if a pressure regulator was installed, it is either malfunctioning, or has never been adjusted since the initial installation. Residential plumbing systems require water pressure that ranges from 45 to 60 psi for optimal operation. Water pressure exceeding 80 psi results in detrimental effects on the plumbing system, and homes supplied by municipal water treatment systems may experience pressures exceeding 100 psi during specific times of the day.
Installing or adjusting a pressure regulator is a relatively simple modification that will protect against costly damage. Additionally, installing a pressure regulator will improve the comfort of your shower, and ensure that your appliances are performing as intended. Appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers that receive consistent, proper pressure will provide superior cleaning, and longevity.
The Hot Water System That Is Increasing Your Utility Costs
Water heaters are designed to provide 8 to 12 years of service, but many fail to meet this expectation, as they are required to work excessively hard. Mineral deposits accumulating at the bottom of the tank act as insulation, requiring the heating element to operate longer to achieve the desired water temperature. In locations where the water is particularly hard, mineral deposits accumulate at a faster rate, and are more extensive.
Annual flushing of the water heater will remove sediment build-up, and restore efficiency. Unfortunately, most homeowners do not regularly flush their water heaters, as they do not realize it is necessary. Additionally, the type of water heater utilized in the home is also a factor. Conventional tank-style water heaters maintain 40 to 80 gallons of hot water 24 hours a day, regardless of whether anyone is utilizing the hot water. This represents a significant ongoing cost to the homeowner, and this cost accumulates over the years.
Conversely, tankless systems heat water on-demand, and eliminate the continuous energy loss associated with maintaining hot water. Although tankless systems represent a higher upfront cost, the long-term savings on utility costs typically outweigh the additional cost of a tankless system within a few years. Homeowners who reside in homes with high hot water utilization, or who have limited space, often find that the conversion to a tankless system makes financial sense beyond the energy-efficient aspect.
Small Repairs That Can Prevent Major Problems
A slow drip from a faucet may seem like a small problem, but the wasted water over the course of a year can total tens-of-thousands of gallons. Similarly, a toilet that runs periodically can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day. These are not just environmental concerns; these represent actual dollars that appear on water bills.
Replacing worn-out washers, faulty flappers, and corroded water supply lines is extremely inexpensive when compared to the ongoing waste caused by failing to address these issues. The issue is that people become accustomed to these small issues, and therefore fail to correct them. The slow drip becomes background noise, and the running toilet is simply jiggled, and the water meter continues to spin.
Implementing regular inspections will identify potential problems prior to escalation. Inspecting under sinks for signs of moisture, testing toilet flappers with food coloring, and monitoring water bills for unexplained increases represent simple practices that save homeowners money. When a component requires replacement, doing so promptly will prevent the small issue from causing damage to adjacent components, and will prevent the issue from escalating into a larger repair problem.
Strategic Plumbing System Improvements
Not all plumbing upgrades will benefit all homeowners, but there are several upgrades that will provide benefits to almost all homeowners. Replacing older galvanized pipes with modern piping materials will eliminate the issues related to rust and corrosion. Installing shut-off valves at each fixture will make future repairs simpler, and will prevent small leaks from becoming catastrophic flooding events. Utilizing low-flow fixtures will reduce the amount of water used by your household, without impacting the functionality of the fixtures.
The key is to view plumbing as a complete system, rather than as a series of unrelated components. When one component of your plumbing system is not functioning as efficiently as possible, it can impact the operation of every other component. An inefficient water heater that is struggling with sediment build-up utilizes more energy than a properly functioning water heater. Hard water can damage appliances, and increase the workload on your water heater. Poorly regulated water pressure can place excessive stress on all of the joints and connections in your home.
Improving your plumbing system will not necessarily involve tearing apart your entire system at once. Rather, prioritize upgrades based upon the age, condition, and impact of each component. Begin with the most troublesome issues or the highest dollar cost issues, and continue upgrading your system over time.
Conclusion
Plumbing systems that are simply operational are not providing adequate service to homeowners. The difference between an operational plumbing system and an efficient plumbing system manifests itself in the form of monthly utility bills, appliance replacement costs, and daily convenience. There are numerous opportunities for modest improvements to yield substantial benefits for most homeowners.
It is not necessary to have the most elaborate or high-end plumbing system to achieve a functional and reliable plumbing system. The objective is to create a plumbing system that delivers water throughout your home efficiently, effectively, and inexpensively. When your plumbing system is functioning properly, you tend to forget it exists – and that is the ultimate goal.
