Homeowners and building managers around Red Oakland are determined to go green in the years ahead, and for good reason -  not only is it important to do your part to help conserve water, but implementing a few eco-friendly practices can save big bucks in the long run.

How important is it to go green? How much money could you be saving right now? Take our quiz to find out!

(To check your answers, just scroll down to reveal the answer and explanation! We grade on the honor system here!)

1.) A leaky faucet can waste up to  __________ gallons of water every year.

A.) 1000

B.) 3000

C.) 1500

D.) 4500

CORRECT ANSWER:

B. Let’s do the math! A leaky faucet dripping just once per second can easily waste nearly 3,000 gallons of water per year. A leaky or running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons a day! Want to learn more about saving water around the house? Read on here.

2.) Chemical drain cleaners are usually considered “green” products.

A.) True

B.) False

CORRECT ANSWER:

FALSE. Like most plumbers around town, the team here at Combat Plumbing tends to think that chemical drain cleaners are harmful both to your plumbing and to your family’s health. Even cleaners marketed as “green” aren’t as safe or effective as homemade remedies, or plumbing tools like drain snakes or hydro-jets.

For more on all-natural cleaning solutions, check out some of our favorite uses for vinegar here.

3.) Adding one of these to your bathroom can cut your water consumption by 50-70%:  

A.) Low-flow shower heads

B.) A water bucket

C.) A home urinal

D.) A three-level sink

CORRECT ANSWER:

A. While home urinals can help save a little bit of water, low-flow showerheads are the real conservation superstars in your bathroom. Adding an aerating or condensing shower head can easily save a typical family up to 25,000 gallons of water every year.

Which low-flow shower head is right for you? Check out our handy guide here.

4.) Which of the following is NOT a way to conserve water and go green in the winter?

A.) Have your water heater tuned up by a pro.

B.) Scrub the exterior of your water heater with bleach.

C.) Insulate your pipes.

D.) Change the water temperature.

CORRECT ANSWER:

B. Insulating your pipes will help you cut back on the amount of hot water you use, while also reducing your overall water consumption. It’s also important to make sure that your water heater is running as efficiently as possible before the chilly Red Oak winter hits. On the other hand, a squeaky clean unit won’t necessarily help you conserve any water. Sorry about that!

Ready to prepare for another Red Oak winter? Here are a few more ideas about how to get your water heater ready.

5.) Which of the following methods will help you keep your laundry room greener?

A.) Replace your top-loading washing machine with a front-loading model

B.) Stop using dryer sheets

C.) Only run your washing machine on days ending with “y”

D.) Use mayonnaise in the place of detergent

CORRECT ANSWER:

A. Front-loading machines are typically more energy-efficient and use less water to run than their top-loading counterparts. And while you’re looking for a new unit, keep your eyes peeled for “Energy Star”-rated models, which can help massively cut back on your water use.

While mayonnaise won’t make your laundry room any greener, it will help you treat water damaged wood. Here’s how.

6.) A low-flow toilet typically uses how many gallons per flush?

A.) 3.3 gallons

B.) 0.5 gallons

C.) 1.3 gallons

D.) 2.6 gallons

CORRECT ANSWER:

C. A standard low-flow toilet typically uses between 1.3 to 1.6 gallons of water per flush, compared to the 3.5 to 5 that toilets used decades ago, since brought down by government regulations.

Looking for another way to save water? Replace your standard toilet with a “dual flush” model, which uses different amounts of water for solid or liquid waste. Learn more about dual flush toilets here.

How’d you do? Obviously, we’re not keeping score! The most important takeaway is that it’s always the right time to think about making your plumbing greener. Whether it’s the dead of summer or the chilly days of winter, Combat Plumbing is here and happy to help you find the green plumbing solutions that are right for your home. Drop us a line to talk today! And be sure to let us know how you did on the quiz on Facebook or Twitter!