A Guide to Eco-Friendly Plumbing Options for Tucson Homes

Plumbing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sustainability, but in southern Arizona, even small upgrades can greatly impact the environment. Check out this handy guide to eco-friendly plumbing options for southern Arizona homes from Economy Plumbing Service LLC in Tucson, AZ, before you plan your next remodeling or repair project.

Eco-Friendly Plumbing Choices To Save Water 

Upgrade Plumbing Fixtures

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to increase the eco-friendliness of your home plumbing systems is to switch to low-flow fixtures. A regular shower head uses about 2.5 gallons of water per minute. That’s 25 gallons for a five-minute shower.

Fixtures with WaterSense approval use no more than two gallons per minute, with many of them using even less. So, swapping your regular shower head out for a WaterSense labeled model will cut water usage for showering by at least 20%. A typical four-person household might expect to save 20 gallons a day with this simple swap.

Find and Stop Leaks

A running toilet and dripping faucet can add up to a lot of wasted water. In fact, some estimates attribute as much as 12% of indoor residential water use to leaks. If you notice an unexpectedly high water bill, it may be a sign that you have a leak somewhere.

A savvy DIYer can fix some small leaks themselves, but some are more difficult to diagnose and fix. An experienced plumber can identify the source of your leaks and repair them, drastically cutting back on wasted water.

Other Sustainable Plumbing Practices for Tucson, AZ, Homes 

Harvest Rainwater

Tucson doesn’t get a whole lot of rain, with an average total of about 11 inches. However, that is enough to make a sizable dent in water use if you can capture and store it. Rainwater harvesting can be as simple as adding a rain barrel to your gutters for watering landscape plants.

Repurpose Grey Water

Another great way to reduce wasted water is to repurpose your household gray water. A reclamation system can be a major project, especially when it comes to filtering water for reuse. However, many people find that this is a worthwhile investment. Laundry and shower water are excellent examples of gray water that can be repurposed in Arizona.  

Re-Pipe With Sustainable Materials

Hiring a professional plumber to re-pipe your home is a great way to lower your household’s environmental impact. Some piping materials are more eco-friendly than others. PVC is a popular material used for waste systems and some exterior supply lines. However, it is not biodegradable and can leach potentially harmful chemicals into the ground. Older steel and lead-based pipes can cause significant health and environmental concerns as they degrade. Luckily, there are more sustainable plumbing choices, including copper and PEX.

You have several options to help reduce water usage and increase the sustainability of your home’s plumbing system. Contact Economy Plumbing Service LLC in Tucson, AZ, to learn more about environmentally friendly plumbing options for your southern Arizona home.

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