If you are considering a bathroom remodel, you may be thinking only of improving the aesthetics of the room. While you can make your bathroom look more attractive, it is also possible to make some improvements to your
plumbing that could minimize the need for repairs, increase the lifespan of your pipes, reduce your heating bills and decrease water waste. Here are just three top tips to improve your plumbing during your bathroom remodel.
Upgrade Your Pipes:
If your home is older, it is likely to have pipes that are made from materials prone to corrosion. Fortunately, a bathroom remodel provides the perfect opportunity to upgrade your pipes to copper. Copper piping has a longer lifespan, is more naturally resistant to corrosion and requires little maintenance. If copper piping is a little outside your budget, there are other materials that can be beneficial. For example, PEX piping is resistance to corrosion and damage from acidic water. It minimizes the accumulation of scale, so if your home does have hard water, it may be a good choice.
Consider Water Saving:
When many homeowners consider reducing their household water consumption, they often think of upgrading their water using appliances, but you can also make a significant impact during a bathroom remodel. There are a number of low flow toilet and faucet models available that can reduce the amount of water wasted in your home. According to EPA data, if you install a low flow faucet, you could reduce your water flow by more than 30% annually. This would equate to a saving of approximately 700 gallons of water each year for an average sized family, or approximately 40 showers worth of water. So, it is easy to see that if you upgrade to water saving fixtures throughout your new bathroom, you will experience some dramatic savings on your water bills.
Install a New Tankless Water Heater:
If you want to reduce your overall utility bills, you may want to consider installing a new tankless water heater during your bathroom remodel. This type of heating system allows for on demand hot water. This means that there is no need to keep hot water warming in a tank and you won’t run out of hot water even if everyone in the family has a shower before you get there. Since a tankless heater only uses energy when you require hot water, it is more energy efficient and will save money on your utility bills. If you are considering installing a tankless water heater, be sure to discuss your options with your plumber. There are lots of different models available, and an
experienced professional will be able to assist you in determining the one best suited to your specific needs.
A bathroom remodel is not only the opportunity to create a more attractive room in your home, but it is also the ideal time to consider how you can make it more practical. With some careful consideration, your new bathroom can not only look fantastic, but be more energy and water efficient, with a reduced risk of problems developing in the future.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solutions.
