PLUMBING & FIXTURES
To fix the plumbing leak that lead to the bathroom replacement, and to prevent new leaks, we replaced all the old galvanized pipe with new copper pipe, installed with lead-free solder. Because we wanted to make sure it was installed absolutely correctly, we hired a licensed plumber to install it.
All of the fixtures in the bathroom--sink, toilet, and shower‹are low-flow. We had no problem finding these everywhere fixtures are sold.
We replaced our old 5+ gallon flush toilet with a new 1.6 gallon flush toilet. We checked Consumer Reports magazine for best flush results in low-flow toilets and bought one of the Eljer models with best results per flush. It doesn't save much water if you get an inefficient model you have to flush two or three times to get it fully flushed. The toilet has a solid wood seat.
There were many many low-flow sink fixtures to choose from, in all price ranges. Our bathroom has an old-fashioned look, so we wanted a sink fixture with that feel. We wanted cross-bar handles with porcelain "H" and "C" inserts for hot and cold.
When we went shopping for a shower fixture, we found that there are many new features in fixtures now, since everything has been redesigned to be more water-efficient. One of these features on shower fixtures is a pre-set temperature control that allows you to set the temperature you like, and then whenever you turn on the water, it goes to exactly that temperature. This eliminates using up water while adjusting the temperature. We saw this in an upscale hotel we stayed at, and fell in love with it. I said, "THIS is the fixture I want in our bathroom!"
We installed two low-flow showerheads in our shower. Apparently there are major differences in how low-flow showerheads are constructed. Some are just regular showerheads with flow-restrictors. Others are newly designed to be more water-efficient. We're very happy with the showerheads we chose as the result of a knowledgeable salesperson helping us make our selection.
Now, since two showerheads may sound extravagant, we want to explain how we installed them. Instead of having two pipes with two independent fixtures, we have only one pipe and one fixture with a diverter valve that allows one or the other or both showerheads to be on as we choose (the diverter valve was also from the La Toscana line, which has all kinds of pieces to construct any arrangement of showers and jets you want). When we turn the diverter valve from one showerhead to two, the water pressure goes down because the same flow of water is now divided between the two showerheads.
We often save water showering together. The water in the pipes only needs to heat up once instead of twice if we both take a shower at the same time, and besides, it's friendlier. It's still one showerhead per person, per shower, and there's someone there to wash your back.
WATER QUALITY
I have been purifying the water in my shower since before I met my husband. In 1978, my father invented the first shower filter for me by attaching a simple undersink carbon filter to her showerhead.
Tap water contains so many toxic substances that can be absorbed through the skin that I feel it is vital for shower water to be purified. So much so, that we invested in a whole-house water purification system, which removes chloramines, fluoride, and many other chemicals. This ensures that all the water we use in our home‹including the water in our shower, from the sink fixture when we brush our teeth, and even in the toilet, is free from volatile toxic chemicals.
If a whole-house filter isn't feasible, I recommend at least attaching a showerhead filter, which are available online for $50 or less.
