According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a standard American family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day. A similar family, if they were to employ simple water-saving practices and live in a home where the plumbing systems were optimized, could conserve more than 30,000 gallons per year. That’s enough water savings to provide drinking water for 150 people.

In addition to affecting water usage, plumbing systems influence the energy consumption and the comfort of the homeowner. Heating your water, whether for bathing or cooking, accounts for about 15 percent of total residential energy use. And we all know that blasts of hot or cold water in the shower can be pretty annoying at 6:00 A.M.

To improve upon issues like these homeowners should optimize their plumbing systems and implement advanced plumbing systems wherever possible. Making the most of your plumbing system involves creating a deliberate design strategy and coordinating the plumbing layout with other mechanical systems and the framing of the home. Ironically, most problems with plumbing systems arise in these processes – not in the selection and installation of materials and products.

Advanced plumbing systems are just optimized systems that add more innovative fixtures and technologies to provide modern features and functionality not found in a traditional system. Here are a few ways to make this happen: * Use a tankless hot water heater. “Standby losses” (heat lost while your hot water sits in the tank) can account for 20 to 60 percent of your annual water-heating costs. Using a tankless hot-water heater can eliminate these losses. * Use a home-run or manifold plumbing supply system to provide control centers. These systems can reduce material use, conserve water, and improve durability and remodeling flexibility. * Centralize the plumbing stack to effectively minimize pipe runs for efficiency and allow for ease of access for repair or remodeling efforts. * If a tankless heater seems impractical for your project, consider solar-assisted hot water heating, or other hot water heating approaches. * Recover greywater, which is wastewater from bathtubs, shower drains, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. It accounts for 60 percent of a home’s water output. It’s safe to recycle greywater for use in irrigation, toilets and exterior washing. Greywater-recovery systems are relatively simple to install in new-construction scenarios but difficult to retrofit into a home. Upfront cost to direct grey water into a separate location for treatment than black water (toilet water) is nominal. * Use water-efficient products. New “dual flush” low flow toilets eliminate the need to flush twice, a primary reason the first low-flow toilets weren’t widely accepted. * Use air-admittance valves. AAVs are one-way mechanical vents used to eliminate the need for venting pipes through traditional roof penetrations. The AAVs are pressure-activated, so the flow of wastewater causes the AAV to open, allowing air to enter for proper drainage. Using AAVs reduces material use, allows for more flexibility in fixture layout, and cuts the number of roof penetrations, which reduces maintenance issues.

Advanced plumbing systems are basically optimized systems that add more innovative systems and technologies to provide unique features and functionality not found in a traditional system. Here are a few ways to make this a reality: * Centralize the plumbing stack to effectively minimize pipe runs for efficiency and allow for ease of access for repair or remodeling efforts. * Use a home-run or manifold plumbing supply system to provide control centers. These systems can reduce material use, conserve water, and improve durability and remodeling flexibility. * Use a tankless hot water heater. “Standby losses” (heat lost while your hot water sits in the tank) can account for 20 to 60 percent of your annual water-heating costs. Using a tankless hot-water heater can eliminate these losses. * If a tankless heater seems impractical for your project, consider solar-assisted hot water heating, or other hot water heating approaches. * Use water-efficient products. New “dual flush” low flow toilets eliminate the need to flush twice, a primary reason the first low-flow toilets weren’t widely accepted. * Recover greywater, which is wastewater from bathtubs, shower drains, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. It accounts for 60 percent of a home’s water output. It’s safe to recycle greywater for use in irrigation, toilets and exterior washing. Greywater-recovery systems are relatively simple to install in new-construction scenarios but difficult to retrofit into a home. Upfront cost to direct grey water into a separate location for treatment than black water (toilet water) is nominal. * Use air-admittance valves. AAVs are one-way mechanical vents used to eliminate the need for venting pipes through traditional roof penetrations. The AAVs are pressure-activated, so the flow of wastewater causes the AAV to open, allowing air to enter for proper drainage. Using AAVs reduces material use, allows for more flexibility in fixture layout, and cuts the number of roof penetrations, which reduces maintenance issues.

If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s plumbing in the Las Vegas area, then Oracle Plumbing is aLas Vegas plumber with over 20 years experience providing Las Vegas Plumbing services.