By Jeff Goane Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
If you had a gushing leak in your home’s plumbing, you’d notice it right away, right? Aside from the potential water damage, you’d be thinking about the amount of wasted water and just how much your next water bill might cost.
What if we told you that most of the wasted water isn’t caused by huge emergencies? Would you want to know just how much water might be going to waste in your home right now? We’ve got some fascinating facts for you about just how much water is wasted in American homes and why. We’ll even tell you just how much money that could be costing you. And yes, we do have a great solution to this problem.
Water Usage
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American uses 82 gallons of water per day. For a family of four, the household would then be consuming 328 gallons every day. That’s almost 120,000 gallons in a year!
Water Bills
One statistic from 2019 suggested that the average American water bill for a four-person household was nearly $73 a month. However, according to the Census Bureau, as of 2021, the average American household contains 3.13 persons. Another study determined that for the average American household, the monthly water bill was $45.44. Even at this lower estimate, that’s nearly $550 per year; the higher estimate would put it around $875.
Water Waste
The EPA determined that plumbing leaks account for 10,000 gallons of wasted water in the average American household every year. Even worse than that, they say that 10% of homes have leaks that waste at least 90 gallons of water every day. That’s more water than adding a family member would use. These leaks add up to over a trillion wasted gallons of water every year in the U.S.
Crunching the Numbers
If ten thousand gallons are wasted each year in a household that uses 120,000 gallons a year, that’s the equivalent of losing an entire month’s water bill each year. If you’re unlucky enough to be in the 10% of households that waste 90 gallons a day, that’s 2,700 gallons per month (more than a quarter of the average household’s water use). That potentially adds up to nearly $20 every month going down the drain.
Sources of Leaks
It’s astonishing just how much water can be lost to a very small leak. A shower dripping just ten times a minute allows 500 gallons a year to be lost down the drain for no reason. If your toilet won’t stop running, it might be going through two gallons of water every minute! Having your fixtures tightened could make a huge difference. If you’re worried that water is being lost in other ways, our team can use video pipe inspection to check your entire plumbing system for problems, so you can get plumbing leak repair and stop wasting water—and money.
For an assessment of your plumbing by Jeff Goane contact Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. Located at 565 Abbott Drive, Broomall. Phone: 610-461-6502; jeff@murphysonmacdade.com or visit www.murphysonmacdade.com
(PA License #113639)
How to Choose the Right Vitamins and Supplements for You
By Chichi Ilonzo Momah, PharmD., Springfield Pharmacy Owner & Pharmacist
Premium supplements are dietary supplements that are made from high-quality and pure ingredients. They are designed to provide a wide range of health benefits to individuals who take them regularly. These premium supplements can help to improve quality of life and promote optimal health by providing:
– Improved nutrient absorption
– Increased energy
– Enhanced immune system
– Improved athletic performance
– Better overall health
Choosing the vitamins and supplements that are right for your body and lifestyle can be overwhelming. I recommend asking a healthcare provider to make recommendations based on your age, diet and health conditions. Here are some of the commonly deficient nutrients that they may recommend a supplement for.
Magnesium is essential for regulating the nervous system, easing sleep problems, balancing blood sugar, and making proteins in the body. Research suggests that it may improve glucose levels in those living with diabetes and improve insulin sensitivity for people with prediabetes. It can also help with blood pressure regulation.
A B-Complex vitamin is made up of eight different B vitamins, most notably vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 creates and sustains your energy supply by breaking down foods and identifying the micronutrients your body needs. Patients with type 2 diabetes who take metformin may have lower levels of B12.
Several B vitamins may also help reduce blood pressure levels, such as vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B9 (folic acid).
The primary function of vitamin D is to help the body absorb calcium, which is vital for bone health. More than 40 percent of Americans don’t get enough sun exposure to achieve the daily recommended dose of vitamin D, and it is not commonly found in food. Research shows that people with high blood pressure tend to have lower levels of vitamin D than those without.
Fish oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart health and brain function. Fish oil is found naturally in fatty fish tissue such as herring, tuna, anchovies and mackerel. If you don’t eat 1-2 servings of fish per week, supplementing with fish oil can help you get enough omega-3s.
Vitamin C has many functions in the body, from protecting against cardiovascular disease and prenatal health issues to working against eye disease and skin wrinkling.
It is important to talk to a healthcare provider any time you are planning to introduce a new vitamin or supplement to your regimen—especially if you are taking other medication. Without supervision, vitamins and supplements can cause potentially serious drug interactions or counteract the positive effects of the medication.
Not all vitamins and supplements are created equal. There is no standard or regulatory definition for dietary supplements from the FDA. Always double-check with a healthcare professional to make sure you’re getting a safe, high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade product.
To receive a recommendation from an expert, discuss your health history with your doctor or pharmacist. Healthcare professionals who are familiar with your health, your medications and your lifestyle are best suited to help you find the right supplements for your needs.
For more information about vitamins and supplements, call or stop by Springfield Pharmacy and talk to our trained staff.
Expert Article provided by Chichi Ilonzo, PharmD – Owner of Springfield Pharmacy
1154 Baltimore Pk, Springfield. Phone: 610-544-4645 – chichi@myspringfieldpharmacy.com
myspringfieldpharmacy.com
Our Home Should Feel Safe and Comfortable All Year
Heat-induced illness is a very real threat as temperatures climb during the summer. Heatwaves and other hazardous weather can settle in, and, if you aren’t taking the proper precautions, things can take a turn for the worse. While heat and humidity make us all uncomfortable, there are ways to mitigate risk and ease the impact of extreme temperatures. Oliver is here to provide some helpful tips. If you live in the Delaware Valley, we can give your home an air conditioning safety inspection so that you know you’re ready to handle the heat.
The best way to safeguard yourself from heat-induced illness is to stay hydrated. It is recommended to drink eight glasses of water a day–not just to keep your body hydrated, but also to help flush out toxins. While sports drinks or caffeinated beverages may help increase your body’s water level, they are not as effective because they can sometimes contain other dehydrating elements. Staying hydrated will help reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Another important way to avoid the summer heat is to stay indoors in your climate-controlled home. Your air conditioner regulates the temperature inside your house and can be a haven for anyone at risk for heat-related illness. Making sure your air conditioner is in working order before the heat comes can help you avoid an emergency. The experts at Oliver recommend an annual home A/C safety inspection to make sure your system is clean, operational and running efficiently this season. By ensuring your home will be cool all summer long, you have one less thing to worry about.
A membership with Oliver provides true peace of mind when your heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical equipment has been inspected to keep it running safely and efficiently all year long. Annual inspections and testing by our professional technicians help to identify issues before they become unexpected problems or expensive repairs. Here are just some of the benefits of our Peace of Mind Membership:
- Plumbing and electrical inspections
- Convenient payment options
- Priority service
- Appointment reminders
- No-breakdown guarantee
- 10% discount
Expert Article provided by Ashley Dennon of Oliver Heating & Cooling. To learn more about the Peace of Mind Membership, call 610-616-5691 or visit oliverheatcool.com.