How Upgrading Your Plumbing Can Save You Money in the Long Run
Although it plays an essential part in our daily lives, plumbing is often overlooked as an area for home improvement. That is, unless we notice a specific problem like the annoying drip drip sound of a leaky pipe or the disappointment of standing under a shower with low water pressure.
These things can be avoided if people took the time to upgrade their plumbing when better solutions come along. Doing so can also help make your plumbing system more efficient and less wasteful, which is good for your wallet and the environment. Yet many Australians don’t do this.
Part of the problem might be that they are unaware that better systems are out there. Plumbing upgrades can also be costly, and non-plumbers may have a limited budget and not know how to spend it strategically. This quick guide will introduce some of the best upgrades you can make.
Who can help me upgrade my plumbing?
Most Australian homeowners only call out plumbers for repairs when something goes wrong. This might lead you to wonder whether a local plumber is able to help you upgrade. The answer, in most cases, is yes they can.
Hiring a local plumber is also often cheaper than hiring a national firm or someone from further afield. So you should, for example, try to get a Northcote Plumber first if you live in Northcote. For the best results, look for someone highly recommended with plenty of experience and ask them about the work you want done. Have they done jobs like it before?
Plumbing upgrades which can save you money
Here are some of the top upgrades you can make which can improve your plumbing’s efficiency and help you save on plumbing repairs:
- Install low flow fixtures: These are the fixtures you use daily, such as taps, toilets, and showerheads, but they are designed to function just as well without using as much water. They achieve this by making clever use of gravity and pressure-assisting technology in their designs, so that the water pressure is the same even when less water is used.
- Insulate your pipes: This is another upgrade which is relatively inexpensive but can lead to significant savings and more consistent performance. Insulation around your pipes will help stop heat from escaping, which leads to savings in your energy bills as your water heater won’t have to work so hard to deliver water at the temperature you want. Also, if you live somewhere that experiences very cold winters, insulation stops water freezing inside the pipes and causing them to burst.
- Filter hard water: If you don’t have a filter to remove minerals from your water, your pipes will end up doing it for you, and that’s not a good thing! Mineral deposits can build up inside them and cause blockages. They can also lead to corrosion. A water filtration system prevents this and extends the lifespan of your plumbing system. It can also make your water tastier and safer to drink.
There are plenty more upgrades you could make, but even just one of these affordable ones can make a big difference to your home’s water efficiency and performance. From a long-term perspective, upgrading your plumbing is an investment well worth considering.
