PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Source: Essential facts: Real Estate Management

Joseph DeCarlo/Warren-Gorham & Lamont

(Plumbing continued)

SHOWER HEADS & FAUCETS

Landlords can perform many adjustments to shower heads and faucets to reduce water waste and lower costs.

Conventional shower heads use approx. 4.5 gallons per minute (GPM). An environmentally sound alternative is the flow-restricting shower head, which uses 2.5 GPM. When used in a four person residential unit, the result is a savings of 10,000 gallons and (approx.) $50.00 per unit. All shower heads and faucets manufactured after January 1, 1994 will have a maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute.

Digital temperature read-out showers save an additional 3500 gallons per year over hand valve showers.

Faucet aerators can save 6500 gallons of water per year. These devices add air to the water flowing out of the faucet, creating higher pressure without excessive water waste.

Push-on hand faucets can save 5,000 gallons of water per year in a unit with four residents.

Pressure sensitive valves can be installed on water mains to reduce water consumption, as well as wear and tear to the entire plumbing system.

(Water heater information coming for December Tip of the Month.)