Information on low-flow plumbing fixtures abounds, and low-flow and waterless urinals are now in widespread use. Flush volume for toilets has evolved to 1.6 gallons per flush, or less than half of the 1980s' standard of 3.5 gallons. The fact that low-flow fixtures can save money in utility costs is clear and easy to calculate with a review of a water bill and an estimate of each fixture’s cycles per month. An enticing payback period for a new fixture purchase can be calculated based on water use alone. However, some facility managers argue that the utility savings offered by these plumbing fixtures are not matched by the unforeseen maintenance and repair costs that they generate. The question of whether low-flow plumbing fixtures offer a good return on investment (ROI) arises.

Interested in lowering water resource costs, wastewater costs, and being able to use water during periods of restricted use? If so, consider installing a greywater system. Greywater systems are plumbing systems that recycle wastewater collected from washing fixtures such as showers, tubs, and sinks. The wastewater is filtered so that it is able to be used in non-potable (i.e., do not drink it!) applications such as irrigation and flushing a toilet.

Water consumption and reduction is a hot topic in many parts of the world these days. Often times, simple methods can lead to major reductions in water consumption. Most people don’t realize that toilets alone can account for nearly 30% of a home’s indoor water consumption. In addition, a toilet made before 1994 can use over three times the water a new toilet uses. It is for those reasons that a toilet replacement makes perfect sense.

Faucets account for more than 15% of a home’s indoor water consumption. A low-flow WaterSense-labeled bathroom sink faucet can reduce that consumption by more than 30%. That equates to nearly 500 gallons of water per year. Much like a showerhead, a low-flow faucet will also create an energy savings by reducing demand on the water heater. This savings is small, about $10 per year, but it helps to create a total savings of $15 per year. Because a homeowner is more than capable of changing out a faucet, the total installed price can be less than $100, depending on preference and quality. This allows for a simple payback of under seven years, and an ROI of approximately 15%.

A standard residential showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm). However, a low-flow WaterSense-labeled showerhead uses only 2 gpm. That is a reduction of 20%, which can lead to a total household water savings of 2,300 gallons per year. Since this will also ease the demand on water heaters, it can create an energy savings of 300 kilo-watt hours per year as well. Assuming the same $10 per kilo-gallon charge as above, and $0.10 per kilo-watt hour of electricity, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead will create a total savings of more than $50 a year. This relates nicely to an average showerhead’s total installed price of $200, allowing a simple payback of four years with an ROI of 25%. Keep in mind that the ROI will be much higher if the installation is done by the homeowner.

Most people don’t realize that nearly 65% of all urinals in use today exceed the maximum allowable flush standards set by the federal government. This shortfall indicates a tremendous opportunity for building owners and managers to reduce their operating expenses through the implementation of high-performance, low-flow urinals.

Toilets are responsible for nearly 30% of the indoor water consumption in a typical U.S. home. In addition, a toilet made before 1994 can use over three times the water a new toilet uses. This makes the replacement of a home’s existing toilets a high priority when it comes to home and building improvements.

Remnants of dirt, debris, and soap that are not rinsed down the drain can harden on the surface of a bathtub or shower, forming a residue. Limiting the amount of residue is important because mildew often grows in areas where residue is not properly removed. Also, areas that are prone to water infiltration should be regularly inspected and repaired as necessary.

Remnants of dirt, debris, and soap that are not rinsed down the drain can harden on the surface of a bathtub or shower, forming a residue. Limiting the amount of residue is important because mildew often grows in areas where residue is not properly removed. Also, areas that are prone to water infiltration should be regularly inspected and repaired as necessary.

When you consider the lifespan of most fixtures and appliances around the home, toilets rank near the top. According to the Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components which was prepared in 2007 by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), "Toilets have an unlimited lifespan, but the components inside the toilet tank do require some maintenance."

Installing or replacing a kitchen faucet is a job any homeowner can do. As with any home improvement project, a little planning to ensure that you have the proper faucet type and the right tools on hand will make for a smooth job.

At the 2011 International Builders' Show, Kohler introduced a number of new products to meet the consumer demand for increased functionality, simplified aesthetics, and water conservation. Some of the product lines featured this year included Karbon, Loure, and Stance faucet collections. These collections are sleek and stylish and can reduce the water consumption by 30% without sacrificing performance. This year Kohler also featured a digital thermostatic showering system.  The DTV II uses a one-piece interface design that provides convenient control of the menu-based navigation system, allowing the user to program the shower's water temperature, spray settings, and lighting.

A food waste disposer, commonly called a garbage disposal, was invented in 1927. According to the 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), over 50% of homes have a garbage disposal. Also, the Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components that was prepared in 2007 by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) suggests that a residential kitchen garbage disposal has an anticipated life expectancy of 12 years. A garbage disposal can be maintained to achieve its full lifetime with proper use, ensuring it is operating efficiently and safely.

Basic tiling skills can be very useful in many home improvement projects, but some tiling projects can prove daunting for even experienced DIY'ers. Installing tile for a custom shower is one of those projects. That has often meant leaving the job of custom showers to the pros – until now. Now there are new preformed bases on the market that allow a “do-it-yourselfer” with basic tile skills and tools to install a custom shower. Join the At Home channel host, Jeff Wilson, for a tutorial on installing a tileable shower basin in a custom bathroom.

One of the final steps in completing a custom shower project is selecting and installing the shower fixtures. While the task of selecting a shower fixture from the wide variety of styles can be challenging, installing the fixture is a simple job. With basic plumbing tools and skills, any do-it-yourselfer can install a shower fixture. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, for a tutorial on installing a handheld shower fixture in the continuation of our custom bathroom series.

Lavatory, or vanity, sinks are often the focal point of a bathroom. The bathroom sink is the most frequently used fixture in the room and comes in a nearly unlimited number of design options. Despite the wide variety of styles and components available, bathroom sinks all install in much the same way, and the installation of a bathroom sink is a project that just about any do-it-yourselfer can accomplish. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, as he installs a lavatory cabinet, undermount sink, countertop, faucet, and drain to complete our custom bathroom series.

Many puns have been applied to toilet replacement and installation, but in reality replacing or installing a toilet is a pretty simple home improvement project for a do-it-yourselfer. The workings of a toilet are contained within the fixture itself, so the installation comes down to making a couple of plumbing connections, one for the water supply and one for the waste drain. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, for a video guide through the process of installing a toilet.

Have a leaking toilet? Fixing it is easier thank you think. Watch our easy solution to a leaky toilet in Sixty Simple Seconds.

Finding water all over your bathroom floor from a leaky toilet is never a good situation. Fortunately, fixing the leak is only a few flushes away. One of the most common causes of a leaky toilet is the wax ring that sits between the toilet and the drain. Replacing a leaky wax ring is a quick DIY project that should be done when you first notice the leak. Watch this episode of 60 Simple Seconds for a quick look at how to replace a wax ring and fix that leaky toilet.

Residential plumbing fixtures differ from commercial plumbing fixtures in that they are not usually constructed to be as durable. All faucets, spouts, strainers, traps, waste piping, stoppers, stops, and escutcheon plates are considered trim and are included in Residential Faucets, Supplies, and Trim.

Each residential plumbing fixture has associated with it necessary items that are often not included with the fixture. Some of these extra parts are the faucets, supplies, and trim.

Emergency plumbing fixtures consist mainly of two fixtures: an emergency eye wash and an emergency shower or deluge shower. The purpose for both of these fixtures is to rapidly wash anyone who has come in contact with an acid or poison which could be absorbed through the epidermis. The eye has the thinnest epidermis at .05 mm, and the palm of the hand has the thickest at 1.5 mm.

This topic includes information related to plumbing fixtures that are installed during construction. Plumbing fixtures are devices or equipment that is connected to the supply side or drainage side of a plumbing system and configured for a specific end use. Fixtures include toilets, urinals, bidets, lavatories, sinks, bathtubs, showers and faucets.

This topic includes information related to water closets, urinals and bidets that are installed in residential structures during construction. Water closets, commonly referred to as toilets, dispose of human waste. Urinals, similar to water closets, also dispose of human waste. Bidets, are often confused with water closets. They are not intended to be used to dispose of human waste, rather they are intended for the purpose of washing and cleaning.

This topic includes information related to lavatories and sinks that are installed in residential structures during construction. Sinks are fixtures, that in conjunction with a faucet are used for cleaning. Sinks are commonly referred to as lavatories in bathrooms. They are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, enameled steel or cast iron, ceramic, marble, plastic, soapstone, concrete, terazzo, wood, stone, copper, glass and granite.

This topic includes information related to bathtubs that are installed in residential structures during construction. A bathtub is a plumbing fixture, that in conjunction with a faucet, is used for cleaning. They are made from a variety of materials, including enameled steel or cast iron, acrylic, fiberglass, wood, stones and metals.

This topic includes information related to shower receptors and basins that are installed in residential structures during construction. A shower is plumbing fixture, that in conjunction with a faucet and head, is used for cleaning. They are made from a variety of materials, including enameled steel or cast iron, acrylic, fiberglass, wood, stones and metals.

This topic includes information related to lavatories and sinks that are installed in commercial structures during construction. Sinks are fixtures, that in conjunction with a faucet are used for cleaning. Sinks are commonly referred to as lavatories in bathrooms. They are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, enameled steel or cast iron, ceramic, marble, plastic, soapstone, concrete, terazzo, wood, stone, copper, glass and granite.

This topic includes information related to faucets that are installed in commercial structures during construction. Faucets control the release of water and may be single or double handle with a single spout. Single handle spouts mix hot and cold water as determined by the end user with one bi-directional handle. Double handle spouts also mix hot and cold water as determined by the end user, however have both hot and cold handles.

This topic includes information related to flushometers that are installed in conjunction with a water closet or urinal in a commercial structure during construction. Flushometers are devices that automatically flush water closets and urinals. When activated the flushometer valve opens and delivers a specific quantity of water under pressure to flush wastewater into the sewerage system.

This topic includes information related to eyewash equipment that is installed during construction. Eyewash equipment is used to wash or rinse the eyes of contaminates and are typically located in work environments that may contain harmful chemicals.

This topic includes information related to drinking fountains that are installed during construction. Drinking fountains provide filtered and cooled drinking water for public consumption.