Improving Water Usage at Home With These Products

The average household spends about $500 annually on water and sewer bills, says the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the following appliances and faucets can help conserve water and decrease costs. 

Depending on one's price range, homeowners can bring down water usage by buying a faucet aerator, a small mesh screen cap that is attachable to an existing faucet, to reduce the flow of water, or buy a new low-flow faucet. The upside to buying a new kitchen faucet is that most are already low-flow due to federal standards, and can save a homeowner $20 per year. Caesar Sanchez, merchandising director for plumbing at Orchard Supply Hardware tells Realtor.com, "Low-flow bathroom faucets limit flow to a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute and save about 30 percent of water compared to conventional faucets."

Unfortunately, not all household appliances that use water are designed to help you conserve. When shopping for water-saving appliances, make sure that they meet federal WaterSense standards. These products carry a special label and are certified by the EPA to use at least 20 percent less water, save energy, and perform as well as or better than regular models.

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