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plumbing B Y B A R B A R A C . H I G G E N S A s drought conditions worsen in the U.S., the need for smart retrofits to high-efficiency plumbing fixtures is on the rise. While there is an urgent need to address rampant water leakage resulting from aging infra- structure, by simply replacing old, water-intensive plumbing fixtures and installing water- efficient plumbing fixtures, water usage can be reduced by billions of gallons a day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conserva- tively estimates that the U.S. could save 3 billion gallons of water per day — about 7 percent of total publicly sup- plied water — by retrofitting pre-1992 toilets, showerheads, faucets and urinals in buildings with products meeting the cur- rent law, as well as WaterSense- labeled products. Manufacturers have been doing their part by offering a variety of products that use less water, and that do it efficiently. Today's low-flow products aren't just made to use less water; they are designed to function better without it. Con- sumers don't have to choose between products that work or products that are eco-friendly — they can have both. New technologies in how a showerhead creates a stream of water can allow a bather to experience the same inten- sity of water flow even though there is less actual water in the stream. This is a great thing, but it is important to remember the showerhead is one part of a larger whole. It is an end-cap to a massive system designed to carry and distribute water. Un- intended changes to this system can affect its ability to function correctly and cause unintended failures that can result in seri- ous injury due to what is known as thermal shock. Thermal shock is when there is a rapid change in water temperature (either hot or cold) that can trigger an automatic response in a bather to escape from the source. This sort of extreme change in temperature is known to make people jump, or react in such a way that it creates a high risk of injury from falls or slips, and in the case of hot temperatures it also carries a serious risk of burns. Thermal shock has been known to cause not only first-degree burns, but second and even third-degree burns. It is something that occurs when there is an improper balance of pressure inside a water system that cannot properly compensate for the demands of multiple fixtures in the home. Installing a low-flow showerhead into a build- ing designed to work with a product that uses a larger flow of water can create this risk if it is not properly done. This does not mean that newer, more water-efficient showerheads shouldn't be installed in older homes, but it does mean it is absolutely imperative that the installation is done properly, with all the necessary precau- tions. Low-flow showerheads should never be used with a non-automatic, compensating- type tub/shower valve. This means making sure that the home uses an automatic compensating valve; one that will not be subject to extreme changes in temperature in the water coming from the show- erhead when another fixture in the building, such as a toilet or a dishwasher, is turned on. In addition to making sure it is an automatic compensating valve, it is important to make sure the maximum flow rate of the showerhead matches or exceeds the minimum flow rate of the shower valve and that both be quoted at the same psi. This ensures the range of water flow for both the showerhead and the valve are within the same range and will work together properly without the risk of injury. The balance between the flow rate of the showerhead and the valve it is connected to is the only way to properly ensure the safety of the bather. Attempts to circumvent this by adjusting the thermostat of a water heater carries a high risk and is considered extremely dangerous. Thermostats in water heaters are designed to control the temperature of water coming into the unit and heat it up to the desired setting, but in doing so it can easily reheat the water already inside. It is not uncommon for water coming out of a heater to fluctuate from the set tempera- ture up to 35 degrees warmer, putting it into the temperature range capable of producing serious burns within seconds. Those promoting the use of more water-efficient products should take into account the whole of the plumbing system and how it works together, and beware of focusing on only one part, which can lead to unintended consequences and injuries. Going green and con- serving water is something that can be done safely in order to protect the current generation, as well as future ones. Barbara C. Higgens is CEO/ executive director of Plumbing Manufacturers International. Smart retrofits can ease strain of droughts, prevent thermal shock Thermal shock MARJAN VELJANOSKI/D. PHOTO CLUB Learn more For more information on thermal shock, visit www.pmihome.org. HVACPproducts.com HVAC & Plumbing Product News \ Summer 2014 8 F d H A P 0 6 1 4 - 0 1 - 2 8 . i n d d 8 FdHAP0614-01-28.indd 8 7 / 1 / 1 4 2 : 3 8 P M 7/1/14 2:38 PM