If you run a restaurant or any commercial kitchen, you know that the efficiency of your plumbing systems plays a huge role in the success or failure of your business. Inefficiencies in the plumbing can cause problems that waste water, cost time, and ultimately affect performance.
Therefore, the Abilene Management team emphasizes that solutions that enhance plumbing efficiency and lower your restaurant’s water usage are essential to the bottom line. What are the best ways to improve plumbing efficiency in a restaurant and positively impact overall customer satisfaction?
7 innovative plumbing solutions that help restaurants save money and improve efficiency
Because of how much water restaurants use daily, even the smallest changes to the plumbing can result in massive cost-saving. The following high-performance solutions will help your business cut operating costs by up to 11% and reduce water usage by 10-15%.
Install pre-rinse spray valves and faucets
Pre-rinse spray valves help restaurants save water and money by reducing the amount of water and energy needed to wash dishes. With high-efficiency low-flow pre-rinse spray valves, it is possible to use eight times less water than older water-hogging systems. This reduction in water usage does not come at the cost of reduced efficiency for the fixture. Pre-rinse spray valves let you save water and energy and reduce the load on your dishwasher.
Low-flow dipper faucets and smart hand sinks
Dipper wells are a great source of water wastage in restaurants, but because of their potential for improved sanitation, they remain an indispensable feature for most establishments. However, you can lower the water usage of your dipper well by installing a dipper well faucet with a flow rate of 0.25 gpm instead of the standard 2.2 gpm. For hand sinks, installing an electronic sensor faucet makes more difference in how much water the fixture uses. Electronic sensor faucets ensure that water runs only when it is needed.
Replace faucet aerators
When searching for water conservation solutions for your restaurant, it is easy to focus on expensive high-tech options at the expense of cheaper low-tech solutions that are just as effective. Replacing the standard 2.2 gpm aerator with a 1.0 gpm aerator can save up to 3,500 gallons per year from a single sink. Depending on the task, this reduction in the water flow rate should not be a problem. You only need 2.2 gpm aerators for tasks like filling large pots. For washing hands and dishes, a 0.5-1.0 gpm aerator will work well.
Upgrade dishwashers and dishwasher use
Replacing old energy-hungry water-guzzling dishwashers with eco-friendly versions can result in a 10% cut in energy and water usage. That is enough savings to help you recoup the cost of the new equipment throughout its lifetime. But replacing a dishwasher is not enough. You also need to review how you use the appliance. Always make sure the dishwasher is full when you use it. Maximize water usage by training your staff not to use the dishwasher half-full.
On-demand water heaters
Traditional water heaters waste a lot of energy because they constantly have to reheat the water inside the tank. They also take up space and make it hard to tailor the water heater operations to the ever-changing needs of the restaurant throughout the day. On-demand water heaters, on the other hand, respond well to the unpredictable water demands of a restaurant. They deliver just the right amount of water to wherever it is needed, and they do it instantly. On-demand water heaters ensure constant supply of hot water without the high-energy costs of storage water heaters.
Air-cooled ice machines
Air-cooled ice machines are just as effective as water-cooled ice machines. Some air-cooled ice machines are more effective than water-cooled ice machines. In addition to performing better, these machines are cheaper to operate and more energy-efficient, and they can lower your restaurant’s water usage significantly. The only thing to be aware of when buying an air-cooled ice machine is it works best in clean, temperature-controlled (air-conditioned) environments. If installed in a warm room or environments with poor ventilation, they will not perform to expectation.
Smart leak detection system
By deploying advanced sensors to continuously monitor the rate of water flow inside your water pipes, smart leak detection technology makes it possible to detect leaks as soon as they happen. By detecting even the smallest water leaks, this technology will protect your building from water damage and help you avoid water wastage. With a smart leak detection system in place, you can focus on your restaurant business with fewer worries about the efficiency of your plumbing system.
Finally, it is essential to consider that you will only maximize the benefits of these systems when you have a comprehensive plumbing maintenance plan based on a program of routine inspections by a competent commercial plumber.