Funny you mention pushback—I’ve had a couple of friends balk at the idea when they were building, mostly because it seemed “too much” for a single-family home. But a few years down the line, they’re grumbling about water bills and wishing they’d done dual plumbing from the start. I’m still not convinced it’s worth it in every case, though. Have you actually seen a noticeable difference in resale value or is it more of a peace-of-mind thing? Sometimes I feel like folks just want the latest eco-feature, even if the payoff is years away...
Sometimes I feel like folks just want the latest eco-feature, even if the payoff is years away...
Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. We looked into dual plumbing when we remodeled, but the upfront cost was a real eye-opener. Ended up skipping it and just focused on low-flow everything. Years later, I don’t really regret it—our water bills aren’t crazy, and I haven’t seen houses with dual systems selling for more in our area. Maybe it’s different in drought-prone places, but around here? Doesn’t seem to move the needle much. Peace of mind is nice, but my wallet likes simplicity.
I hear you on the sticker shock for dual plumbing. I’ve seen a few projects where folks went all-in on greywater systems, but honestly, most of the time it’s the low-flow toilets and smart irrigation that make the biggest dent. I’ve even had clients rip out fancy setups later because maintenance was a pain. Sometimes simple just works better, especially if you’re not in a spot where water’s super scarce.
Sometimes simple just works better, especially if you’re not in a spot where water’s super scarce.
- Agree on the maintenance front—seen too many overengineered systems end up unused.
- In my experience, low-flow fixtures and efficient irrigation controls have the best ROI for typical homes.
- Curious if anyone’s actually tracked savings from rainwater harvesting on a residential scale? I’ve seen it spec’d but rarely see follow-up data.
- Wondering if “simple” is always best, or if context (climate, lot size, local rebates) ever tips the scale for more complex systems.
Curious if anyone’s actually tracked savings from rainwater harvesting on a residential scale?
We put in a couple of rain barrels a few years back—nothing fancy, just the standard 50-gallon drums. Honestly, the water savings looked good on paper, but in practice, it only made a dent during spring and early summer. Once July rolled around, barrels were empty more than they were full. If you’re somewhere with steady rainfall or big roof area, maybe it’s different, but for us it was more “nice to have” than a game-changer. On the other hand, swapping out all the old toilets and showerheads actually cut our bill noticeably. Sometimes simple really does win... at least where I live.
