When it comes to boosting a home’s value, plumbing tends to take a back seat to other improvements. However, potential buyers often look closely at the shortcomings and strengths of a plumbing system because they must live with the purchase. Putting some thought into your plumbing upgrades can make a big difference in your home’s value, so let’s look at several of the top options.
Water-Saving Fixtures
Water consumption is a notable cost in any household, and water-saving fixtures are ideal upgrades. Low-flow toilets can reduce consumption by more than two gallons per flush. To qualify as a low-flow toilet, a system needs to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
Aerated faucets and showerheads are another appealing class of upgrades. The WaterSense label tells you which models will save you 20% compared to the standard label. For faucets, that means getting a system that uses 1.5 gallons per minute or less. For a showerhead, the figure should be 2 gallons per minute.
The cost of water-saving fixtures tends to be low, with even high-end models rarely going above $300. The payback period for most water-saving fixtures is between one and three years, making them easy additions to any house.
Tankless Water Heaters
If you’re wondering what particularly counts as a plumbing upgrade, look no further than a tankless water heater. In terms of convenience, a tankless water heater delivers on-demand water even if you’ve been running the hot water for a long time. Likewise, a tankless water heater is a great space-saver. They are great for tight locations like utility closets and can even free up room in large basements.
Tankless water heaters save money, too. Most run 20% to 30% more efficiently than a typical tanked model. Most of the benefit comes from not needing to reheat water that sits and cools during periods of non-use. Most tankless water heaters also have longer lifespans, typically lasting more than 20 years as compared to the expected 10 to 15 years for a tanked setup.
New Pipes
With the rise of modern plastic piping systems, there has never been a better time to redo the pipes in a home. The newest systems make it easy to run lines into difficult spaces. Also, they are vastly more corrosion-resistant than older metal designs. If a house has water pressure issues, you might want to look at whether the existing pipes are the culprit.
Many home buyers worry that fixing the pipes is going to be a problem in the future. Showing them that your house has modern piping is a good way to raise your home’s value. Even better, modern piping often earns a lower insurance premium because of the reduced risk of leaks, flooding, and water damage.
Smart Plumbing
Smart technology can feel like a trend that has gotten out of hand in homes, but there’s serious value in smart plumbing. Homeowners always worry about the risk of leaks, but auto-shutoff valves can significantly mitigate those risks. A sensor package in the valve regularly checks the water pressure for signs of a drop-off. If a drop-off occurs, the sensor triggers a shutoff signal that closes the valve.
Even better, the valve can then send a notification to your phone with the location of the problem. Not only does this protect your house, but it helps you get on top of repair needs.
Modern sensor packages also allow you to tightly monitor water usage. If you’ve wondered where you might be able to save money on your water bill, monitoring can help. You can quickly identify how much is going to the kitchen, the bathroom, irrigation, and outdoor uses like a garden hose. Continuous reporting will also keep you up to date on your household’s consumption, including reports to your phone.
Smart sump pumps are another nice option. Whenever the sump pump kicks on, it can send an alert to your phone. This is a great way to stay on top of potential basement flooding. Also, the sump pump can inform you about run time data, so you’ll know when to service or replace it. Some models even support battery backups, giving you peace of mind during storms that cause power outages.
Whole-House Water Filtration
Whole-house water filtration has many benefits. Many folks love filtration because they want the cleanest-tasting water possible. Filtration can also eliminate minerals that can corrode or block your plumbing system’s pipes. Filtration can eliminate cleaning issues by making sure your water will be pure enough to not interfere with soaps and detergents. If you’re worried about chemicals, such as tap water with high chlorine levels, filtration makes a big difference.
Filtration has plenty of health benefits, too. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to check whether your home’s water is the cause of the irritation.
Similarly, filtration can extend the lifespan of appliances. Cleaner water reduces corrosion and accumulation in systems like water dispensers and dishwashers.
A whole-house filtration system is the simplest option. By treating the water before it ever goes into the pipes, you can be confident that you’re always getting the cleanest and safest water possible.
Bathroom and Kitchen Enhancements
Today’s showerheads offer some exciting options. If you’re interested in a gentler flow of water, a rainfall head can provide a relaxing experience. Likewise, body jets are superb for getting an all-around more cleansing wash.
Premium bathroom fixtures are cost-effective investments that often increase home value. Luxury finishes and designs can quickly upgrade a bathroom without getting into a major remodel. High-end sink options also enhance a home. An undermount sink can upgrade a space with little effort.
Touch-free faucets add convenience and efficiency, too. A touchless faucet allows you to wave your hands in the vicinity of the faucet without interacting with the handles. Modern systems also quickly turn off once you’ve stopped using them, preventing waste.
Insulation for Hot Water Pipes
Hot water loses some of its temperature as it travels through your home’s pipes. Especially if you’ve noticed the hot water taking longer to reach a faucet or showerhead on a cold day, you may want to invest in insulating the lines. The reduction in heat loss is usually between two and four degrees, but this can allow the water delivery to happen two to three seconds sooner per use. That might not sound like a lot, but it pays for itself over many uses because you don’t have to run the hot water as much. Depending on your hot water usage, you can expect it to reduce water heating costs by about 3% to 5%.
Matheson Heating, Air & Plumbing deals with all kinds of plumbing installation, repair, maintenance, and upgrade projects. Our plumbers work on water heaters, sump pumps, filtration systems, and more. We send fully stocked vans to every job site and treat our customer’s places with the utmost respect. When we quote a price, that is what you’ll pay.
If you’re exploring ways to upgrade your Commerce, MI home’s plumbing system, reach out to Matheson Heating, Air & Plumbing today.