- Saving Money Through Bathroom
Renovations
Spending money to remodel kitchens
and bathrooms is an excellent way to recoup an investment on
home improvements. This can be as expensive – or as inexpensive
as you desire. Following these guidelines, however, will assist
you to save money where it counts the most; in your utility bills.
The more of these valuable measures you implement, the more you
will save!
|
• Upgrade the commode.
Water-saving toilets were introduced about 1994. Homes built
before this time were constructed with commodes that used as
much as seven gallons of water. In comparison, the most recently
designed models use less than a gallon of water with each flush.
By saving between two and four gallons of water with each flush,
you soon will be regaining the purchase price of your commode
– by saving on your water bill!
• Composting toilets
are becoming more popular. These commodes do not use water
for flushing, and also require less power. Furthermore, they
are more environmentally friendly than standard commodes, which
make them especially desirable to those interested in making
“green” choices while remodeling or renovating their
homes.
• Install new plumbing.
It’s very likely that the bathroom pipes and faucets were
installed when the house was built, or with the last renovation.
If your commode is older than 1994, chances are your plumbing
will be older as well. Changing old, worn pipes can help you
to save as much as ten percent of your water bill each month.
Furthermore, if your house is more than 50 years old, lead pipes
may have been used in the original plumbing. The dangers of lead
poisoning have been well documented, especially in children.
|
|
• Purchase low-flow showerheads.
These were introduced
in 1992, and are mandated in all new homes or bathroom remodeling
projects. These reduce water usage to 2.5 gallons per minute,
and save an estimated 15,000 Liters of water each year. This
translates into about a $30 decrease in the average household
water bill. Recently, even more eco-friendly showerheads have
been designed. These “green” options offer cost-conscious
homeowners even more savings than their predecessors.
• Opt for tankless water
heaters. These require
very little space – less than 2 feet by 2 feet. In addition,
they use up to 70 percent less energy than standard electric
water heaters. Although they cost more upfront – approximately
$1,000 more, the significant savings over time is more than worth
the investment. Imagine saving 20 percent of the energy costs
for your home with this environmentally friendly decision!
• If you cannot afford
the extra outlay to purchase a new water heater, consider dialing
down the heat on your older model. Older water heaters are set to heat at 180 degrees,
which is much higher than any person’s tolerance for hot
water. Newer models can still be dialed as high as 150 degrees,
and this is still excessively hot for most people. Turning the
water heater down to 120 degrees will save energy expenses –
and also decreases the risk of a burn injury to someone in your
household! |
