Tip #1

Problem: Water from your faucets and showerhead spits rather than flows

Solution/What: Replace your faucet aerators and showerheads
Why: The most likely culprit of an inconsistent water stream from a faucet is a clogged aerator–the screw-on screen that covers the mouth of the faucet. Showers account for 26 percent of a household’s hot water use. Installing a low-flow shower head can shrink that flood from 3.5 gal. per minute to 1.5 gal. To improve water pressure, the water is pushed through an accelerator fin that increases the velocity of the water as it comes out of the head. To add to the pleasure of your experience, the fixture also injects oxygen into the water. Adding this important component to your water will rejuvenate your skin and leave you feeling like a million bucks!

Story/Cost Savings: Aerators introduce air into a faucet’s stream, reducing the amount of water by about half without lowering the pressure. A faucet aerator can save 400 gal. of hot water a year, which means less work for the water heater. If the rated flow on your current aerator is visible, and if it’s above 2.75 gal./minute, replace it with a more efficient model emitting 1.5 gal./minute or less. If the aerator’s flow rate has been scuffed off or it’s too hard to read, just replace it. The new aerator will likely have a lower flow. Three aerators cost $4.80 and will save you $170 annually. Replace your showerhead with a low-flow model; you will use less water and less energy to heat the water. The average family can save up to $600 a year.
How: First, for the faucets, remove the aerator and flush any lime or mineral deposits until the screen is clear, then reattach it. In cases where the aerator is entirely blocked or crusted, it’s easier to swap it with an inexpensive replacement available from hardware stores and home centers.
For the showerhead replacement, look for a low-flow showerhead such as The Oxygenics Elite. Not only will you not sacrifice the pressure of standard heads, but you won’t have to worry about minerals or hard water clogging up your filter.

 
Tip #2
Problem: Your toilet doesn’t flush well and clogs often

Solution/What: Make a few easy adjustments to make your toilet more efficient

Why: Flush toilets waste an enormous amount of water.

Story/Cost Savings: You can cut your toilet water usage in half by making it more efficient.

How: Here are several tips to get the most out of each flush:

• Limit Flushing. Don’t use the toilet as a trash can. Dispose of tissues, cotton swabs, and dental floss in the trash. You’ll save water and also prevent clogs.
• Consider replacing toilets with dual-flush models, which use less water depending on the disposed contents.
• To cut down on the waste, fill two half-gallon plastic containers with water and place them in the toilet tank. This will lessen the amount of water needed to refill the tank, but it won’t affect the quality of the flush.
• Your toilet may not be flushing well because the stopper ball returns too soon to the valve seat, where the water runs out of the tank. To keep the stopper ball afloat longer, try these steps: Raise the guide arm about one-half inch higher on the overflow tube if it is adjustable.
  o Bend the top of the upper lift wire so it is a bit shorter, and the ball will be lifted much higher. Insert the end of the wire in a hole in the left arm that is closer to the overflow pipe. This will lift the stopper ball even higher.  
  Tip #3
  Problem: Your sink drains slowly

Solution/What: Clear your drains of the most common clogging problems before calling a plumber

Why: Almost anything other than water flushed down a drain in large enough quantities can be enough to start the clogging process.

Story/Cost Savings: see cost savings on plumbers’ rates

How: There are four main reasons your sink may be draining slowly; follow this checklist to rule them out.

1. Hair Clogs – Hair is a common problem for drains. If any hair gets into your drain, it will probably stay there for a long time. Hair does not dissolve or break up easily and, as a result, makes very strong clogs. In addition, it can even catch other small pieces of debris that would typically pass safely through your drain, allowing them to build up and cause further problems. You can remove hair clogs from your drain using a drain cleaner, plunger, or drain snake. However, you are much better at preventing them before they happen altogether. If you have problems with hair clogging your drain, you should purchase and install a hair trap to keep your drain in good condition. Be sure to empty it regularly, as there is a good chance your filter will fill up quickly if enough hair goes down your drain to cause problems.
2. Grease Clogs – Grease can also cause many problems for drains. While grease seems like it would not be solid enough to clog a drain, the truth is that many things can make liquid grease solidify enough to both block the flow of water and trap other solid particles to create a stronger clog. You can avoid grease clogs by simply not pouring grease down your sink or pouring hot water down when necessary. Additionally, you should be able to remove weaker grease clogs by pouring hot water down your drain. However, if this does not work, more standard methods will probably be necessary.
3. Mineral Buildup – If you have hard water, minerals may build up in your drain pipe, causing your drains to work more slowly than usual or even stop altogether. Mineral buildups can also cause other debris to accumulate more quickly. You can remove a mineral buildup with a drain cleaner or a drain snake. Also, dealing with the problem at the source by dealing with your hard water problem is possible.
4. Soap Scum – Soap scum functions much like grease in your drain. Although it is a liquid, when you wash it away, it can solidify and accumulate just as much as any other substance that forms clogs. Additionally, soap scum can catch other items that are being flushed down your drains and develop them into clogs. Soap scum is tough to avoid putting down your drains, so unfortunately there are few effective preventative measures that you can use against it.