| Did you know that Americans use about 40 billion | | | | 5. Attach the new showerhead to the pipe fitting |
| gallons of fresh water EVERY day! | | | | and rotate until secure. Be careful not to over |
| In 1992 Congress legislated that all new faucets | | | | tighten. I recommend using your hands for this |
| and shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute or | | | | step as a wrench or pliers can damage the |
| less, which has helped water conservation efforts. | | | | showerhead and may cause you to over tighten. |
| So it may surprise you to hear that the average | | | | 6. Turn on the water and watch for leaks. If the |
| shower uses 30 gallons of water or more! | | | | showerhead leaks, tighten ¼ turn and |
| Don't worry...there's something you can do that's | | | | retest. Remember not to over tighten. I highly |
| cost effective and fast to save water and lower | | | | recommend using Teflon brand plumbers tape. |
| utility bills in your home. Evolving technologies have | | | | Here are some tips for using plumbers tape: |
| made more efficient plumbing fixtures available to | | | | - Wrap the male threads at end of the pipe but |
| homeowners at affordable prices. | | | | do not lap over the end. Doing so may result in |
| An inexpensive way to conserve water usage is | | | | reduced water pressure or even clogs from bits |
| to install low flow faucet aerators on all your | | | | of the tape that get into the water supply. |
| faucets. These cost as little $5 but yield significant | | | | - Start with a couple loops around at the end, |
| water savings over time. The aerators work by | | | | then wrap all the threads, overlapping half the |
| mixing air with water to reduce the amount of | | | | width of the tape on each wind. |
| water that comes out of the faucet without | | | | - Wrap in the direction of the threads starting |
| lowering the pressure. Newer water efficient | | | | from the end and proceeding toward the length |
| faucets are produced with these aerators already | | | | of the pipe. Wrapping the wrong way may result |
| installed. Each faucet will save 1 gallon of water | | | | in the tape coming unwound as the fittings are |
| per minute with an aerator installed. | | | | tightened. So if you will rotate the showerhead |
| In just 15 minutes and for as little as $30 you can | | | | clockwise to attach, you'll wrap the tape clockwise |
| install a water efficient showerhead. You'll need | | | | as well |
| the following items for this project: | | | | - As you wrap, keep tension on the tape so that |
| -adjustable wrench or channel pliers | | | | it is pulled into the threads. |
| -towel/rag | | | | - When you remove the showerhead or any |
| -white vinegar | | | | fitting, always remove the old tape and rewrap |
| -new showerhead | | | | with a fresh piece. There are many |
| -plumbers tape | | | | water-conserving showerheads on the market. In |
| Here are the step by step instructions for | | | | the $20-$30 price range consider Speakman |
| replacing your showerhead: | | | | Company showerheads which have an auto flow |
| | | | water conserving device to automatically control |
| 1. It's not necessary to shutoff the water to your | | | | water flow and a ball joint connection for smooth |
| shower. If you feel more comfortable with the | | | | positioning. If money is no object consider |
| water off, locate your shutoff valve. In some | | | | Waterdecor products |
| instances it is necessary to turn off the water in | | | | Low flow water fixtures are readily found at |
| your bathroom by turning off your main water | | | | building supply stores and online, and they don't |
| shutoff valve. It's a good idea to know the | | | | require any special connections or fittings to install. |
| location of this valve incase of an emergency. | | | | Now get ready to save water, energy and |
| 2. Use an adjustable wrench or pliers to remove | | | | money! A family of three can conserve over |
| the showerhead and allow all the excess water to | | | | 10,000 gallons of water every year with the |
| drain. | | | | installation of water-conserving shower heads. Do |
| 3. Clean the pipe's threads thoroughly with vinegar | | | | your part to protect our nation's fresh water |
| and allow the pipe to dry completely. | | | | supply and save money on your utility bills, too. |
| 4. Wrap the pipe's threads once with plumbers | | | | No that's a home improvement we can all benefit |
| tape. This will ensure a good fit with the | | | | from! |
| showerhead. | | | | |