Emeryville-based The Lunt Marymor Company, which specializes in Green plumbing, has identified four technologies that effectively conserve water resources.
The first two are “smart” technologies. Smart faucets have motion sensors that activate a pump and push water that’s been sitting in the hot side of a plumbing system to the cold side. When someone turns on the hot water tap, the water in the pipe is already hot and unused cold water isn’t wasted.
Smart showerheads shut themselves off until someone steps into the shower. Combined with a feature that injects ambient air into the 1.6-gallon-per-minute, low-flow water stream, they can increase water pressure and save up to 3,000 gallons per year, per person.
High-efficiency toilets, which use half as much water as traditional designs, are another option for water conservation. Rebates are available from the East Bay Municipal Utilities District. Also, screw-on aerators attached to a faucet can cut water use by half.
The cost of most plumbing jobs can’t be reliably estimated in advance, especially if the problem is behind a wall or ceiling, so more important than the overall cost estimate is to determine a plumber’s hourly labor rate. Also, find out what the plumber’s policy is for travel time charges (most plumbers spend a good deal of the day driving between jobs). Choosing a local plumber with a higher rate can actually cost less than a more distant one with a lower labor rate.
Check if the plumber charges for materials based on the Modern Wholesale List price (an industry-standard publication used by many reputable plumbers). If the plumber uses it, you won’t be overcharged for parts.
For any job more complex than a straightforward faucet replacement, Lunt Marymor advises you select a professional, licensed plumber, not a handyman. Also, be leery of franchise plumbing firms. Their prices are often inflated and the franchise owners are often individuals working out of the back of a truck. If not done properly, even small jobs can become big and expensive, and investing in quality up front will lessen the probability of future problems.
