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Plumbing is a crucial aspect of many home improvement projects, particularly if it involves a bathroom or kitchen remodel. Plumbing might first seem a reassuring, steadfast, unchanging industry that we rely on day-to-day, but your plumber is no longer just the person you rely on to fix leaks in emergencies. In truth, the plumbing industry has experienced many advancements over the past decade that can help your home become smarter, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly than ever before. Any plumber that has been part of the industry for the last decade will know just how useful the new advancements are to renters, homeowners, and businesses, and also to plumbers themselves.

When it comes to key plumbing trends of 2020, no list would be complete without a mention of the following advancements:

  • Environmentally friendly plumbing
  • Water consumption awareness
  • Greywater recycling
  • Water recycling dishwashers
  • Voice-activated technology
  • Smart-tech toilets
  • Smart-tech showers
  • Internet-enabled water heaters
  • Tankless water heaters
  • Solar-powered heating solutions
  • WiFi-enabled water filtration
  • Smart-tech sprinklers and irrigation

Environmentally Friendly Plumbing

Over the last ten years, advancements in technology have enabled eco-friendly plumbing practices to come to the forefront of plumbing technology advancements. More than ever, homeowners and business owners rely on their plumber to provide environmentally friendly plumbing solutions. Using recycled materials and eco-friendly materials to construct new plumbing elements is becoming more prevalent.

Additionally, offering technology that improves water efficiency and providing plumbing installations with reduced energy consumption are two ways that plumbers have used technological advancements to improve the overall eco-friendliness of your Arlington, TX, home over the last decade.

Water Consumption Awareness

As consumers are becoming more educated on the topic of climate change, many consumers are looking for ways that they can reduce their carbon footprint. The average family of four in America uses 300 gallons of water or more per day, equating to approximately 109,500 gallons of water per year. Considering these figures, finding ways to minimize water consumption has become a recent trend.

Something as simple as a continually running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day, which can be easily fixed by a professional plumber and result in the cutting of household water consumption by up to two-thirds. For homes with aging appliances and fixtures, making the switch to modern appliances can cut water consumption by 20% or more, according to a 2014 Government Accountability Report.

Water consumption awareness has led to more people switching to modern toilets and appliances, which waste less water with every use. Emerging trends such as greywater recycling solutions are growing in popularity and also designed to reduce water consumption.

Greywater Recycling

Greywater recycling allows homeowners to use less water at home by re-using water used in kitchens and bathrooms to perform alternative tasks such as watering the plants in the yard. Water from clothes-washing machines, bathtubs, showers, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures can be diverted for alternative use. Advancements in technology have made this water recycling technology highly supportive of the environment and cost-effective.

While government regulation regarding domestic greywater use for landscape irrigation is still developing, the trend continues to gain broader support in 2020 that is likely to continue for years to come. In Texas, there is no permit required to use a greywater system if the flow is less than 400 gallons per day, meaning many Arlington, TX, homeowners can benefit from this emerging trend. Your plumber can advise what activities you may be able to use greywater for, and help you to not only save water but energy and money. There are many benefits to this emerging technology, including reducing water diversion in sensitive ecosystems, potable water conservation, and providing a locally-controlled, dependable water supply.

Water Recycling Dishwashers

When choosing your next dishwashing appliance, an emerging trend in dishwasher purchasing indicates that more and more homeowners are opting for dishwashers that utilize water-saving and water-recycling features. Washing dish