Plumbing is an essential part of any house. It is a complex network of pipes, valves, and other components that make it possible to turn on the tap and get water out. Plumbing also helps in the management of wastewater, which in turn helps to keep our surroundings hygienic. But how much do you really know about your plumbing? While most people are familiar with basic plumbing concepts, there are certain facts about plumbing that may surprise you. These include the following.
1. On Average, a Typical American Family Uses Over 300 Gallons of Water per Day
According to the EPA, the average household in America uses over 300 gallons of water every day, and only about 70% of that is used indoors. Further analysis by the City of Philadelphia government agrees with this statistic. According to the latter, just one person uses 101.5 gallons of water every day for all purposes. This can be broken down as follows:
- 36 gallons for a full tub
- 20 gallons for bathing
- 15 gallons for laundry
- Three gallons per toilet flush, which equates to a total of 18 to 24 gallons for six to eight flushes
- Two and a half gallons for hygiene, which includes brushing teeth and washing face
- Four to 10 gallons for washing dishes
- One gallon of drinking water
2. A Leaking Faucet Will Waste Over a Gallon of Water per Week
While it’s easy to ignore a leaking faucet, it can add up to over one gallon of wasted water over the course of a week. And we are talking about a relatively tiny leak that occurs only twice a minute. For that reason, it is important to keep an eye on your faucets for drips. If you notice a leak, it is recommended to call a plumber to get it fixed as soon as possible.
3. Installing Low-Flush Toilets Saves a Lot of Water
Low-flush toilets are designed to use less water per flush compared to traditional toilets. Traditional toilets typically use around seven gallons of water per flush, while low-flush toilets typically use around 1.6 gallons. This means that with a low-flush toilet, you can reduce your water usage per flush by more than half, resulting in significant water savings over time. By extrapolation, the amount of water you will save in a year by using low-flush toilets can be as much as 18,000 gallons.
4. There Are Two Different Types of Plungers
Plungers are essential to most American households, as they are used to unclog sinks and toilets. But did you know that there are two types of plungers? The first type is the toilet plunger, which is characterized by its narrowness at the bottom to enable it to fit into a toilet. The second type is a sink or shower plunger that is flat at the bottom.
5. Insulating Your Home’s Pipes Helps Save Water
It may sound ludicrous, but insulating your house’s water pipes can help to save water. That is because there will be minimal heat loss as water travels from the heating point to the faucet. That also means you will not have to run a lot of cold water as you wait for the hot water.
Most of the above-mentioned facts about plumbing come with the caveat that you should pay attention to small problems when they first appear. If you let them go unattended, it can lead to bigger issues that could cost you a lot of money in repairs and wasted water. Call A Better Plumber in Waldorf, MD today for services such as drain cleaning, leak detection, and more.
