The average water pressure in a residence is 40 to 80 pounds per square inch (psi). That pressure could be reduced to as little as 20 psi and increased to as much as 125 psi.
Low-Flow Rate
A low-flow rate fixture will use anywhere from 1.25 GPM from a shower head to 1.6 gallons of water per toilet flush and 1.5 GPM from a low-flow sink or tub faucet. Choosing a low-flow rate fixture cuts down on the water usage by 30% to 60%.
Low-flow rate fixtures can be purchased for the shower, sink, tub and toilet. Consequently, a homeowner can cut back on the water usage simply by changing his fixtures. Older toilets used up to six gallons of water per flush accounting for around 40% of a home’s water usage.
Low-Flow Shower-heads
By reducing that water to 1.6 gallons per flush, the toilet’s total home water usage gets reduced significantly down to less than 10%. A low-flow rate shower head could reduce the water usage from a whopping 18% down to a paltry 9% if we use a home with 50 PSI as the original example. Homeowners can drop from 20 gallons per five minute shower down to as little as 7 to 8 gallons for the same five minutes in the low-flow shower.
While it’s hard to imagine getting the same results from a low-flow fixture as you would from a high pressure traditional fixture, most people don’t notice a significant difference in their experience when using one or the other.
The main reason for the barely noticeable difference is the way the water is forced through the fixture. You may be using less water, but it will feel like more, because the water stream is accelerated and pushed through the shower-head at a greater rate. This provides the user with a robust shower despite the fact that less water is flowing through the shower head.
Low-Flow Toilets
The problems with low-flow toilets were rectified by re-engineering. The trap-way’s diameter was increased and stronger siphoning action was produced to allow both water and waste to flush more easily.
The bowl was adjusted to have less friction and less water was allowed to rest in the bowl, reducing the amount of water used per flush. The end result is a toilet that no longer needs five plus gallons per flush.
By using technology that uses aerators and greater force to push that water through low-flow fixtures, more efficient performance is gained in today’s washrooms and kitchens.
The added benefit is reduced water usage. Households that once had to spend three times more for water, now have the luxury of getting clean by using far less water and saving significantly amounts on their water bill.
Don’t delay. Give Plumbing Solutions LLC a call at (803) 513-5749 to save money and lower the carbon footprint of your Columbia home without changing your busy lifestyle.