A flow restrictor is a solid ring (small enough to fit inside a shower or tap pipe) with a fixed aperture. Picture a mini doughnut. Because of its stable structure that does not change in size, the flow restrictor constantly limits the water stream resulting in less water passing through the pipe before exiting.
The national standard for maximum showerhead flow rate is 2.5 gpm. Removing the flow restrictor from your showerhead may cause it to surpass this limit, not only causing you to waste water, but also making your shower not up to code.
It's illegal to sell a showerhead that uses more than 2.5gpm at the standard system water pressure. What you do to modify one is up to you unless it's being inspected or the moral imperative, depending on where you live.
Flow Restrictors
The disadvantage of this type of valve is that flow may be entirely obstructed. This in turn leads to the pump having to operate against closed valve conditions and to boilers and water chillers operating with insufficient flows.
Removing the water restrictor from your showerhead can also improve water pressure.
Inside every shower head is a small part called a flow restrictor or flow regulator. This part is designed to control the flow of water to the shower head and it has a significant effect on the water pressure in your shower.
Removing flow restrictors may conflict with local regulations, especially in states like California that face water shortages. Additionally, increased water consumption not only impacts your utility bills, but also the environment, requiring a thoughtful approach.
In short, a flow restrictor increases pressure on the upstream side of the restrictor. The flow output is decreased in water output per minute, but the force with which it comes out increases.
The flow restrictor limits the volume of water with its stable and fixed structure, whereas the flow regulator normalises the water flow with its contracting and expanding rubber washer.
Single shower pumps can only raise the water pressure of the hot or cold water supply and are usually used to boost hot water. The bar rating – 1 bar is ideal for smaller shower heads, 2 is best for multiple showers, taps or appliances, and 3 bar pumps are best for power showers and large shower heads.
The average shower lasts about eight minutes. Since the average showerhead has a water flow of 2.1 gallons per minute, each shower uses more than 16 gallons of water! Across the United States, we use more than one trillion gallons of water each year just for showering. Never fear!
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.
The most common function of a flow restrictor is to meter the flow rate of the fluid or gas traveling through it. A simple example is a faucet used to control the speed of water flow into a kitchen sink or out of a showerhead.
Why does water come out of my shower head and the spout at the same time? Most likely you are experiencing "shower-rise," where the water can't get out of the spout as fast as it flows through the valve. This causes the water to back up and come out the shower head.
Do all shower heads have removable flow restrictors? All of ours do, but fewer and fewer on the market are removable and more convert each year to be the non-removable type.
While it is possible to remove flow restrictors from shower heads, we strongly advise against it for several reasons. Flow restrictors for faucets are an integral part of most aerators and it is generally not possible or desirable to remove them.
What are the advantages of flow restrictors? Flow restrictors primarily limit the flow. According to experts, consistent use of flow restrictors can save 35%-65% of water used in industry. In addition, they ensure a constant flow, which is important for sensitive fittings.
Do I need to use a flow restrictor on my RO unit? Answer: Reverse osmosis units work by creating a back pressure on the exiting water to force the pure water through membrane. This back pressure is created by adding a flow restrictor on the waste pipe and unless this is fitted you will never achieve good quality water.
Standard modern showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), and some older showerheads use as much as 10 GPM.
A: Yes. Looking at the part map in the Instruction Manual, the flow restrictor is INSIDE the pivot ball. You need needle nose pliers to unscrew the white tabbed filter, called the filter screen. Once you remove the filter screen, the blue water restrictor easily pops out.