When it comes to priorities in your home, plumbing fixtures are probably pretty low on the list. They’re unobtrusive and out of the way. When they have issues, they’re typically small enough to ignore. Plumbing fixtures are also parts of your home you use every day, however. Every person in your household uses a plumbing fixture multiple times a day, every day.

Whether it’s a faucet, shower, sink, tub, or pipe, your fixtures matter. They’re a big part of what makes your home feel convenient and livable. They also wear out and break down over time. If you’ve been waffling on the idea of updating your home plumbing fixtures, that’s okay! We’re here to explain why now is probably the best time to invest in some upgrades.

They’re probably out of date.

Time takes a toll on even the hardiest sink, tub, or plumbing appliance. If you’ve had any plumbing appliance for over five years, it’s a good time to look at potential updates. Showerheads and faucets wear out more quickly than pipes. Take stock of your different fixtures’ ages and write them down.

Writing down fixture ages will help you determine the right times to look into upgrading. While worn out fixtures can still work, they’ll lead to more problems than they’re worth. The headache of water waste, lost money, and constant repair isn’t worth avoiding the slight inconvenience.

It’ll save you money.

According to the EPA, “The average family spends more than $1,000 per year in water costs, but can save more than $380 annually from retrofitting with WaterSense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR certified appliances.” That’s a lot of money–just for switching out your fixtures!

Unfortunately, most fixtures just aren’t as efficient as you wish they were. Household fixture leaks waste close to 10,000 gallons of water each year for your average four-person household. The gallons–and money–can really add up. A small investment in new fixtures now could save hundreds and thousands of dollars over time. Plus, old stuff needs lots of repairs. You’ll save more money replacing your features once in a while instead of repairing them all the time.

It’s safer for you, your family, and your possessions.

Worn-out plumbing fixtures put you at a much higher risk for emergency plumbing problems. A pipe that’s been broken down due to age or wear-and-tear can burst. Anyone who has experienced a burst pipe knows how damaging the experience can be.

Seals and valves can wear out, too, which can affect water temperature and pressure. Suddenly. As in, while you’re showering suddenly. You don’t want that to happen, trust us. Replacing your fixtures will help make sure it doesn’t.

If you’re feeling inspired to make a change after reading this post – great! Give the team at Ben Franklin Plumbing a call. We’d be happy to talk to you about your options. Whether you’re looking for a new showerhead, faucet, toilet, or anything in-between, we’re always happy to help.