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Plumbing Upgrades to Help You Transform Your Home | Insight from Your Trusted Katy, TX Plumber
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When most people think of upgrading something in their home, they don’t think about their plumbing system. However, there are a lot of little upgrades you can make to the plumbing system in your Katy, TX, home to add convenience, reduce problems and prepare for the future. In some cases, you can actually save money by upgrading your plumbing with some of the newest technology. If you’re planning on upgrading your plumbing system in the near future and need some good ideas, here are some insights from your plumber that you might want to consider.
Low-flow Fixtures
There are a lot of benefits to reducing water usage in your home, but most people simply aren’t willing to make major changes when it comes to their daily routine. The best way to conserve water without making major changes to your habits is to invest in low-flow fixtures.
Low-flow toilets use about 75% of the water that regular toilets use, which adds up to a lot when you consider all the flushing that goes on in your home. However, you can also install low-flow aerators on your sinks and a low-flow shower head in your shower to reduce water usage. It might take a little bit of time to get used to the change in water pressure, but it’s well worth it when you see how much you can save on your monthly water bill.
New Pipes
The tough part about keeping your home’s plumbing in good shape is that most people don’t look at their plumbing system very often. With all the pipes hidden in the walls of the average home, it’s no surprise that people don’t keep an eye on their pipes and have them replaced as often as they should.
The truth of the matter is, all pipe materials have a life expectancy. While they might last a little longer than this life expectancy, those cases are somewhat rare. If the pipes in your home haven’t been replaced since it was built, now is a good time to have a plumber do a full repipe. Old pipes aren’t just more susceptible to problems than their newer counterparts, they can contaminate the water in your home if they’re old enough. One important thing to note is that replacing all the pipes in your home will take a bit of time and be fairly costly, but you won’t have to do it again for decades.
Smart Leak Detection
A leak in your Katy, TX, home is one of the worst things that can happen, especially if you don’t notice it for a while. The problem is, it’s very hard to spot leaks unless they occur in a spot where you look often. Many leaks, however, tend to happen in the walls or in the crawlspace of your home, making them hard to spot.
Leak detection systems help you keep an eye out for leaks in the spots that you don’t normally check. These systems are installed on your main water line, with sensors on various other lines throughout your home. When a pipe is leaking, the detection system will pick up on that and alert you. Once you know where the leak is at, you can shut your water off and call a plumber to fix it. This is arguably the best way to prevent expensive plumbing repairs since leaks can cause so much damage.
Efficient Appliances
We already talked about the importance of saving water in your home, and efficient appliances are a great way to do that. While old dishwashers and washing machines used a lot of water, newer models help conserve water while still providing you with the same thorough cleaning. Even better, most of these newer appliances will also save you money on your electric bill.
When it comes to finding a good washer, high-efficiency (HE) models are always a good choice. These models are specifically designed to work with HE detergents which are made for low water usage. Plus, HE washers can actually wash larger loads than standard top-load washers.
As far as dishwashers go, you just have to shop around a bit for the models people rate highly for efficiency. There are a lot of great dishwashers out there if you’re looking to save water, so the possibilities are endless. This is also a good chance to get a dishwasher with new features that makes cleaning up the kitchen a bit more convenient.
Stop Valves
When most people have a plumbing problem, they turn off the main water shutoff valve. While there’s nothing wrong with this in terms of effectiveness, it’s a bit inconvenient since you’re turning off water to your entire home. Often times, you really only need to turn the water off to one fixture or in one part of your home.
Stop valves are the best solution if you want to avoid turning your main water supply off. These valves can be installed on individual fixtures to give you complete control over what you want to turn off. Not only is this convenient for you, it’s also a big help for plumbers since they don’t have to rush to finish the job and get your water back on.
Time for an Upgrade
If you want to give your home a boost in terms of function, upgrading your plumbing system is one of the best things you can do. Even if you only add a few low-flow fixtures, you’re still taking important steps to conserve water and think forwardly. If you want to make a bigger impact, you can go for a complete repipe and install water-saving, energy-efficient appliances in your Katy, TX, home.
Upgrading your plumbing system means having a good plumber on your side, and bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of West Houston is happy to help. If you want to learn more about upgrading your plumbing system or schedule an appointment with a plumber, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of West Houston today.
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