Totally agree on the dual-flush toilets—installed one last year and it's been great. Another thing worth mentioning is faucet aerators. They're super cheap, easy to screw onto existing faucets, and cut down water use without sacrificing pressure. Also, speaking from experience (and a few soaked shirts later...), always double-check shut-off valves before starting any DIY plumbing job. Older valves can be sneaky and might need replacing first. Learned that one the hard way...
"Older valves can be sneaky and might need replacing first. Learned that one the hard way..."
Haha, been there myself—nothing like an unexpected shower mid-project to keep things interesting. Good call on the faucet aerators too; they're underrated but make a noticeable difference. Another easy upgrade I've found helpful is swapping out old showerheads for low-flow models. They maintain decent pressure and save water without feeling like you're rinsing under a drizzle. Glad to see others tackling sustainable upgrades at home, it's definitely worth the effort.
"Another easy upgrade I've found helpful is swapping out old showerheads for low-flow models."
I've tried those low-flow showerheads myself, and honestly, I wasn't too impressed. Maybe I just picked the wrong brand, but it felt like it took twice as long to rinse shampoo out of my hair. Ended up switching back to a regular one. I do agree about the valves though—those sneaky leaks can really catch you off guard mid-project... learned that lesson more than once.
I had mixed results with low-flow showerheads too—some brands definitely perform better than others. Found that models with aeration tech gave a stronger spray without sacrificing water savings. Worth checking out if you're open to trying again sometime.
Interesting point about aeration—hadn't thought of that. Do you notice any difference in water temperature stability with those aerated models? I tried a budget-friendly low-flow head a while back, and it seemed like the hot water would fluctuate more than usual...not sure if that was just my plumbing or something common with these types. Curious if anyone else has experienced similar issues or found a workaround.
