Green Bathroom Makeover | National Geographic

TL;DR

• Old bathroom fixtures waste water; replace them with modern, efficient ones to save money and conserve water.

Transcript

hi I'm Patti Kim whether you're getting ready to take on the morning or just soaking in the shower at the end of a long day the bathroom could be a retreat from the world but it's also where over sixty percent of the water used indoors gets consumed like to save water and money the bathrooms a great place to start let's take a look and the biggest ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚾 Old toilets use significantly more water per flush than modern ones.
• 🚾 Checking for leaks in toilets is essential to prevent water wastage.
• 😒 Showerheads made before 1992 can use excessive amounts of water.
• 💐 Replacing showerheads with low-flow models can save water and money.
• ☠️ Faucet aerators can indicate the flow rate of the faucet.
• 💐 Upgrading to low-flow aerators can reduce water usage.
• 💦 Simple habits like turning off the faucet while brushing teeth can save water.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can you determine if your toilet is wasting water?

You can check for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank and waiting to see if any color appears in the bowl, indicating a leak.

Q: What is a simple trick to reduce water usage in a toilet?

Placing a plastic bottle filled with pebbles or sand in the tank can displace water, reducing the amount used each flush.

Q: Why should you consider replacing old showerheads?

Old showerheads can use a lot of water; replacing them with low-flow models can cut water usage in half during showers.

Q: What is a quick way to check the flow rate of your faucets?

Unscrew the aerator on the faucet tip and take it to a hardware store to match it with a low-flow aerator with a flow rate of one gallon per minute or less.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Old toilets use up to 8 gallons per flush; modern ones use 1.6 gallons.

• Check for leaks in toilets using food coloring; leaks waste water.

• Old showerheads can use 5.5 gallons per minute; replace with low-flow models to save water.