Plumbing Use Electricity
If you’re a homeowner, you probably don’t think about plumbing and electricity at the same time. However, it’s important to understand that many aspects of your home’s plumbing require electricity to function properly. For example, your hot water heater and sump pump rely on electricity to operate. Without it, you’d find yourself with a cold shower and sewage backup in your basement. The good news is that, in most cases, you can still use your plumbing during a power outage.
However, it’s essential to understand that there is a direct correlation between your plumbing system and your electric bill. By taking some simple steps to conserve water, you can reduce your electric bill without sacrificing the functionality of your plumbing system. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can do just that!
Whether or not you’ll be able to use your plumbing during a power outage depends on where your water comes from. In most homes, municipal or city water will work during a power outage as long as it’s still being delivered from the city water tower. However, if your water is coming from a well or your city uses electric pumps to move sewage to the treatment plant, then you may not have access to water after the outage.
Does Plumbing Use Electricity?
If you have a traditional storage-tank water heater, it will work during a power outage as will your sinks and toilets. If you have a tankless water heater, it will also work during a power outage but it will not keep your water hot for very long. In addition, if your sewer system is pump-powered, you will have to be careful not to flush too much because it could back up into your house.
Your dishwasher and washing machine are likely to require electricity to operate but your refrigerator and stove will not. It’s important to know this before a power outage so you can prepare accordingly. Depending on how long the outage lasts, it’s wise to stock up on food and drinks that can be consumed cold.
The answer to this question is a little more complicated. Modern indoor plumbing works from water towers or tanks on hilltops that are higher than the delivery point (your home). The towers and tanks are filled with water by electric pumps, but before electric pumps they were probably powered by windmills or water wheels. House toilets don’t consume electricity because they use gravity and water pressure to flow, and your waste is pumped away from the house by electrically-powered pumps. However, if these systems aren’t running during a power outage, your toilets will not flush and you may have to resort to using buckets or a plunger.
Whether you’ll be able to use your bathroom during a power outage depends on your location and how your home is connected to the city or well water supply. If you live in a high-rise building, then you’ll probably need to use your emergency toilet kit. If you’re not sure, contact a local plumber for more information.