The average family could save 2,700 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. Since these water savings will reduce demands on water heaters, they will also save energy. In fact, the average family could save more than 330 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power a house for 11 days.
Since these shower heads mix the water with the surrounding air, it can cause the water to cool down quickly. There can also be a delay in warming the water, so a fast shower might not be as satisfying.
Newer models can reduce the volume of water used by half, but still provide an enjoyable showering experience! It is important to point out that if you have an electric shower or a shower with very low pressure, a water-saving shower head will probably not be suitable for your home.
A water efficient showerhead can save more than 26 litres of water for an average 7 minute shower, which is more than 9,000 litres of water per person in the household per year.
Benefits: Low flow shower heads can decrease water consumption by 40% or more! This not only conserves water, but it cuts down on your monthly water bill providing significant end-of-year savings. Showers take energy to heat the water, thus cutting down on water usage also cuts down on energy usage.
For water conservation purposes, most plumbing codes require faucets and showering devices to not exceed a certain maximum flow rate. Removing the flow restrictors could cause these devices to no longer meet these codes.
If you're looking for the most pressure, go for the 2.5 GPM Flow Rate, unless you are restricted because you reside in California, Colorado or New York. Again, this has been the Maximum Flow Rate since 1992.
Products labeled with the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense logo are certified to use less than 2 GPM. The flow rates of most water-saving shower heads range from 1.5 to 2 GPM. Before you run out and buy the lowest-flow shower head you can find, however, think first about your home's water pressure.
Water-saving showerheads that earn the WaterSense label must demonstrate that they use no more than 2.0 gpm. The WaterSense label also ensures that these products provide a satisfactory shower that is equal to or better than conventional showerheads on the market.
Select a shower head with less than 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) flow rate. Determine if you want an aerating or laminar-flow shower head. Aerating means that the water is mixed with air, which would make a mist-like spray. Laminar-flow is a shower head that has individual streams of water.
Many traditional showerheads offer an output of five or more gallons per minute, or gpm. With a low-flow showerhead system, the average is closer to 2.5 gpm, with some faucets offering amounts as low as 1.6, reducing the volume of water used in a single shower to a mere fraction of what was going down the drain before.
Rain shower heads don't actually use more water than standard shower heads. However, you might prefer not to invest in a rain shower head if you live in an area where water costs are notably high.
Compared to standard wall-mount and hand-held showerheads, rainfall showerheads typically cost more—sometimes hundreds more. This is, in part, because they are so much larger than most traditional showerheads. They also have fewer settings.
It is estimated that most people use about 50 litres of water for a bath i.e. 2 buckets of water approximately. A low-flow (normally used at homes across India) shower-head uses about 3.5 litres a minute, or 35 litres for a 10-minute shower.
National standard of maximum 2.5 gpm flow rate for shower heads was established through the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 in order to save water. If the state, county or city of residency does not specify a maximum flow rates for shower heads, a 2.5 gpm shower head is the maximum one can get.
Square shower heads work best in contemporary bathrooms with angular elements, such as a square bathtub. Round shower heads tend to complement traditional bathroom styles. Ultimately, it's your choice, but these are things to consider when making your decision.
Saving Water Saves Money
With a 2.5 gpm showerhead, you'll soak up nearly 440 gallons of water in one month from shower use alone. With a low-flow showerhead, 175 minutes of showering uses just 262 gallons of water. Which means you save about 60 percent every month.
A standard 2.5 GPM shower head uses 2.5 gallons of water each minute. That's 25 gallons for a 10-minute shower. VS. A low-flow 1.8 GPM shower head uses 1.8 gallons of water each minute.
A 2.5 gpm shower head will have a better pressure and shower experience than a 1.5 gpm shower head. A 1.8 gpm shower head would have a better pressure and shower experience than a 1.0 gpm shower head. Another drawback of low flow shower heads boosting the pressure is the temperature instability.
The average household needs 100 to 120 gallons per person per day, and a flow rate of about 6 to 12 gallons per minute.
So if there is a shower running that uses 2 gpm, the washing machine which uses 3 gpm is running, and the kitchen sink is running at 3 gpm, which means 8 of 12 gallons are currently being used. This can often lead to lower “water pressure” because the flow rate simply can't keep up.
Two big reasons: To help lower utility bills -- and to conserve water. According to the EPA, the average family could save 2,700 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. Since these water savings will reduce demands on water heaters, they will also save energy.
Flow restrictors belong on all bathroom and kitchen faucets. Each one can save you up to 5,000 gallons, or about $10 every year.
Removing a flow restrictor is illegal according to the US Energy Policy Act of 1992, which limits the maximum shower water flow rate to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM).