anyone tried sustainable plumbing upgrades at home?

Aerators are a no-brainer, sure, but if you want real water savings, toilets and showerheads move the needle way more.

I’ve swapped out a ton of old showerheads for low-flow ones - some folks complain about pressure, but the decent brands barely feel different. Dual-flush toilets can be hit or miss though. Had one install where the gasket just wouldn’t seal right, no matter how careful I was. Sometimes the “old flapper” is actually easier to deal with... depends on the house.

I’ve had similar luck with low-flow showerheads - some tenants notice, most don’t. The trick seems to be avoiding the absolute cheapest models. Toilets are a different beast. I tried dual-flush in one older unit and ended up with constant calls about leaks or phantom flushes. Sometimes I wonder if the water savings are worth the maintenance headaches, especially in places with old plumbing. Anyone else find that newer tech doesn’t always play nice with 60s-era pipes?

Honestly, I tried swapping in a dual-flush toilet when I moved in, thinking I’d be saving the planet and my wallet. Ended up with more clogs than savings - old pipes just don’t seem to cooperate. Low-flow showerhead was fine, but toilets? Regret.

Yeah, dual-flush toilets can be a gamble in older places. Here’s what I see a lot:

- Old cast iron or narrow pipes just don’t move the “goods” with less water. You end up plunging more than you’re flushing.
- Some of those early low-flow models were notorious for weak flushes. Newer ones are better, but still... if your plumbing’s from the ‘60s or earlier, it’s hit or miss.
- Sometimes people swap the toilet but forget about venting or slope issues in the drain line. Not enough pitch = stuff gets stuck, no matter how fancy the toilet is.

Honestly, I’ve seen folks go back to regular toilets after a year of frustration. Low-flow showerheads are usually fine since pressure’s not as big a deal there. Toilets, though? If your pipes are cranky, sometimes old-school just works better.

If you’re set on saving water, there are a few high-efficiency models that actually work decently with older plumbing, but they’re not all created equal. And yeah, sometimes you just gotta pick your battles - nobody wants to be on first-name terms with their plunger...

If your pipes are cranky, sometimes old-school just works better.

That’s been my experience too, honestly. I tried a dual-flush in my ‘70s house and it was a constant battle - felt like I was saving water just to waste it plunging all the time. Ended up switching back, but kept the low-flow showerhead and aerators. Has anyone here had luck with greywater systems or rain barrels for indoor use? Curious if that’s less hassle than messing with old pipes.