Project: Install Low-Volume Water Fixtures
You’ll hardly notice the difference — except in your water use and bill.
You can save a lot of water and hardly notice the difference if you install new low-flow faucet aerators, shower heads, and toilets. If you have an older home and haven’t upgraded, you’re due. But even newer homes don’t always have the best water-saving fixtures. Changing faucet aerators and showerheads is a quick and easy job almost anyone can do. Changing toilets is a bigger expense and effort, but the savings are big, too; unless you’re super-handy, call a plumber for this one.
EPA’s WaterSense® program is a one-stop site for practical home water info: EPA WaterSense.
Use this calculator to find out how much money a WaterSense qualified toilet, faucet or showerhead will save you: EPA WaterSense Calculator
Find WaterSense products including toilets, faucets, showerheads and urinals: EPA WaterSense Products.
How-to video: install a low-flow showerhead: Installing A Water-Saving Showerhead.
How-to video: install a faucet aerator: Installing A Low Flow Faucet Aerator.
How-to video: reduce the amount of water used per flush: Home Staging Channel.
Save water, save money! Sorry, no rebates or financial incentives on our list at this time.
How can I find out how much water my toilet uses? I don’t want to replace it if it’s already pretty efficient.
Sometimes toilets are labeled with how much water it uses per flush. This is often found stamped somewhere on the bowl. Another estimate, if you know the vintage of your toilet, is as follows:
- Models before 1980 use 5 to 7 gallons per flush
- Models after 1980 use 3.5 gallons per flush
- Models after 1990 use 1.6 gallons per flush
If you’re still not sure, watch this video to find out how you can measure you toilet’s flush.
How much money will I save if I replace my older toilet with a WaterSense-labeled one?
It is safe to say that most toilets were installed after 1980 and use at least 3.5 gallons per flush. This is more than twice as much as today’s WaterSense-labeled models, which use 1.28 gallons. A WaterSense toilet can save a family of four more than $90 on their water bill every year, and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet.