Tag: fixtures

Get Eco-Friendly Appliances and Plumbing Fixtures in Honor of Earth Day

Make the Home More Eco-Friendly This Earth Day 

In the spring, nature shakes off the dormancy of winter and starts to green back up. With trees and grass returning to life in a splash of green, now is the perfect time to think about greening up the home. With Earth Day right around the corner, there has never been a better time to consider upgrades around the home to reduce the carbon footprint, save energy and reduce water usage. 

The plumbing in the home is a great opportunity to introduce some eco-friendly practices. By saving water and reducing energy usage, homeowners can go green, just like all the trees on the block. Here are some of the best recommendations from local experts to help homeowners have a more eco-friendly home. 

Water-Saving Plumbing Fixtures 

saveThe first opportunity for eco-friendliness in plumbing is water conservation. Water takes a huge amount of energy and infrastructure to purify and transport it, so by reducing water usage, homeowners can have a big impact on these systems. The first thing that homeowners should do to save water is to schedule a plumbing inspection to take care of leaks. For a longer-term plan, installing water-saving fixtures is the best idea. 

For an eco-friendly home that sips water instead of guzzles it, try installing plumbing fixtures like: 

  • Water-saving toilets that can reduce water wasted on flushes by around 20%
  • Low-flow showerheads reduce water usage during bathing by another 20%
  • Touchless faucets save water by reducing the likelihood that someone will leave the faucet running

Energy Efficiency Options for Appliances 

washerWhen it comes to making the plumbing in the home more eco-friendly, most people tend to think only about how plumbing fixtures can save water. While water conservation is a main goal in an eco-friendly household, several appliances use water as well as power, making them great opportunities for energy and water savings. 

To maximize savings on water bills while minimizing wasted water and power, look into upgrading to: 

  • Energy-Saving Water Heaters: These devices use far less natural gas or electricity to provide hot water to the family. 
  • Energy-Efficient Washing Machines: New washing machines are high-efficiency, using less power, water, and soap to pollute waterways. 
  • Water-Saving Dishwashers: The most efficient dishwashers use as little as four gallons of water to clean dishes. They are also energy-saving to reduce power usage. 

Can Repiping a Home Help? 

The final opportunity that plumbing presents to homeowners that want to have an eco-friendly home is the plumbing infrastructure itself. Things like pipe material, diameter, and plumbing layouts have important implications for eco-friendliness. 

In older homes, metal piping can leak or seep out water, raising bills and wasting freshwater resources. By upgrading the piping to modern plastics like PEX, homeowners can reduce wastage and the possibility of a burst pipe. When repiping a home, plumbers can also address problems like pipe diameter that can cause restrictions in water flow. This reduces water pressure to the home without a drop in volume supplied to fixtures. 

About Apple Valley Plumbing Company

Apple Valley Plumbing Company is the local expert for water conservation in homes. Their award-winning service and free estimates can help everyone achieve their environmental goals. Call today for a courteous plumbing service in Apple Valley, MN. 

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Give Mom the Grand Gift of Upgraded Fixtures This Mother's Day!

New Kitchen and Bathroom Plumbing Fixtures for Mom

Mother’s Day is all about spoiling and pampering Mom, showering her with love and appreciation, giving back for everything she’s done all these years. Treating her to breakfast in bed, spending quality time with her, and giving her a chance to kick back and relax all go a long way. But it can’t stop there - she also deserves a great gift (or several)! 

Sure, chocolates and flowers are time-honored classics, but sometimes something a little more special (and long-lasting) is in order. And what could be better than an upgrade for some of those boring old bathroom and kitchen fixtures? Especially if she’s been wanting to do it herself but hasn’t found the time. Here are a few great gift ideas that mom is sure to love.

New Bathroom Fixtures Mom Will Lovebathroom

The bathroom is the perfect place to start for Mother’s Day gift ideas. Upgrading fixtures like faucets, sinks, and bathtubs can transform a bathroom to give it the feel of a luxury resort. If doing it all at once is a bit out of the price range, it’s easy enough to tackle one fixture at a time. 

Upgrading to an elegant new water-saving faucet is perfect for water-conscious moms. And they come in a variety of styles to suit any taste, from chrome and stainless steel to nickel and polished brass. If it’s time for a new sink, some mothers may appreciate the modern look of a vessel sink or the added counter space of an all-in-one sink and vanity combo.

A new bathtub can dramatically change the entire bathroom all on its own. Large soaker tubs are perfect for moms who want to unwind after a long day. Whether it’s a free-standing clawfoot or flat-bottom tub, a spacious walk-in tub, or a whirlpool tub with soothing jets, it’s sure to give Mom the blissful relaxation she deserves.

kitchen

The Joy of New Kitchen Fixtures

An upgraded kitchen sink or faucet (or both) is another gift nearly every mom will love. Most new water-saving kitchen faucets feature an aerator to mix air with the water for a powerful stream that’s great for cleaning. Combined with a built-in hose sprayer, this can make nightly cleanup a breeze, which is not just a gift for mom but the whole family!

A new kitchen sink basin can also make life easier - and more luxurious. Farmhouse sinks are a great blend of old and new styles, and in fireclay or cast iron, are sturdy enough for any job. A stainless steel double-basin sink is a classic option. Or for those households where a lot of cooking goes on, a large under-mount sink can provide enough space for even the biggest dishes and food prep jobs.

The Importance of a New Garbage Disposal

Another great gift idea for the kitchen is an upgraded garbage disposal. Many homes don’t have a garbage disposal, to begin with, making food prep and cleanup more difficult. Most vegetable matter and other food scraps can safely go down the disposal and be ground into tiny bits and washed away. This means moms get spared the nasty job of cleaning out the food trap every night!

In homes that already have a disposal, it may be high time for an upgrade, anyway. They typically don’t last much longer than 10 years and begin to lose their effectiveness as they age. Newer, more powerful models also tend to have better sound insulation, so cleaning up won’t make as much of a racket, and the after-dinner conversation won’t be rudely interrupted!

About Apple Valley Plumbing Company

Apple Valley Plumbing Company has been happily serving the Apple Valley, MN community for years. Their courteous, professional technicians are on call day and night to handle any job, big or small. They provide free estimates, up-front pricing, and a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee. Call now for plumbing services!

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