From Linda:

As you no doubt are aware, our area has been suffering from a serious long-term drought. So in this month’s issue, we take a look at the easy and practical ways you can make sure you don't waste another drop of water in your home.

Be sure to look for our April e-newsletter where we'll talk about Life Stage Design - a remodeling concept that ensures your home is perfectly designed for the way you live now and the way you'll live tomorrow.

As always, we look forward to working with you and your friends to make your homes all they can be!

Water Sense:
Easy Ways to Save This Natural Resource

Saving water doesn’t just save you money, it helps ease drought conditions in our area by conserving precious water resources. So if you’re remodeling your home, or building a new home, you might want to consider some of these easy ways to reduce your water usage:

Pick the Right Products for Your Bath
Bathroom showers, toilets and sinks account for around 75% of the water used in your home. One of the easiest ways you can make a difference in your home’s water consumption is to look for and purchase water-efficient products evaluated and rated by the EPA’s WaterSense program. Products you can buy that have the WaterSense label include water heaters, toilets, sinks and fixtures such as faucets and showerheads.

With improvements in both design and technology, today’s second generation low-flow toilets are far superior to their predecessors. Dual-flush toilets are another option which may seem somewhat expensive, but the result will be water savings over the life of the toilet that more than make up for the initial cost. A dual-flush, low-flow toilet can use as little as .5 gallons per flush, compared to standard toilets that use as much as 5 gallons. With the average person flushing eight times per day, a family of four can save 13,000 gallons of water per year!

Low-flow showerheads lower bathing water consumption by at least 50%. Many styles and features are available, including flow-adjusting dials and a pause button, which allows you to break for lathering or shampooing. You can also install a faucet aerator to reduce the flow of water in your bathroom sink from 2.5 gallons per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute. Also consider a bathtub with an in-line heater which allows you to heat the water rather than add more hot water as the tub cools down.

More Good Ideas That Save Water
Another easy thing you can do to save water is to put in a system that takes water from showers, sinks, tubs, and washing machines and sends it to a separate tank used to water your lawn. Your garden can also be watered with rainwater collected from your roof and stored in tanks or directed towards bushes, trees, plants or other vegetation.

If you are remodeling or building, be sure to place your water heater as close as possible to your kitchen and master bathroom to reduce the amount of time you need to run faucets before they get hot. You can even consider an on-demand tankless water heater. Because a tankless water heater does not hold any water, it uses less overall energy. Another alternative is a recirculating hot water system which uses a pump to circulate hot water on a loop between the most remote plumbing fixture and the water tank. It conserves energy by operating only when hot water is required via an activation button or timer.

So do what you can to conserve and consider one or several of these easy ways to use less water in your home. Call Gridley Company at (408) 374-0900 and we’ll help you review your home’s water systems to make sure you don’t waste another precious drop.

Monthly Home Maintenance Tip:
Check Your Outlets for Safety

This month, take a few minutes to check all of your electrical outlets for loose-fitting plugs. If you find any, they are an indication of a worn-out receptacle. Worn receptacles should be replaced as they are subject to overheating and can cause fires. Also, be sure to check electrical outlets and switches to confirm they are working properly. If any switches, outlets or receptacles do not work, have a qualified electrician determine the problem and fix it to avoid fires inside the walls of your home.

Warm regards,

Linda Gridley
Gridley Company

info@gridleycompany.com
www.gridleycompany.com

Photo of dual-flush toilet © Kohler Co.  Used by permission.