Tip 2 - Aerate Your Faucets |
A simple device you can attach to water faucets will save an amazing amount of water and hot-water energy. It's an energy-efficient faucet aerator. Home Energy magazine says we would save more than 250 million gallons of water a day if every American home installed faucet aerators.
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FAUCET FACTS
- The normal faucet flow is three to five gallons of water per minute (gpm). Attaching a faucet aerator reduces the flow by 50 percent. Though the flow is reduced, it will seem stronger because air is mixed with the water as it leaves the tap.
- Installing energy-efficient aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets will save hot water. It also will cut water use by as much as 280 gallons a month for a typical family of four. That's more than 3,300 gallons a year for one family. If only 10,000 four-member families install energy-efficient aerators, we'll still save more than 33 million gallons a year.
- Don't confuse energy-efficient faucet aerators with standard screen aerators, which do not reduce faucet flow rate. Ask your store clerk if you're unsure.
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| SIMPLE THINGS TO DO: Installing an aerator is easy, even if you're all thumbs. The ends of most modern faucets unscrew and that's where the aerator attaches. If you have questions, ask a plumber or local hardware store for help. |
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PORTABLE DISHWASHER ALERT: If you use a portable dishwasher in your kitchen, don't install an energy-efficient aerator on the kitchen faucet. The reduced flow may effect dishwasher performance.
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