Shower Efficiently With Showerheads That Save Water
Long, hot showers are certainly enjoyable, but showering is one of the major ways we waste water in our homes. Figure that showering accounts for about 17 percent of the water used in the typical home, for a total of 40 gallons of day for an average family. That’s nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water used in the U.S just to take a shower, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Retrofitting your shower with a low-flow, efficient showerhead will do a lot to save some of this water, while also cutting down on the amount of energy needed to heat the water.
Replacing the Showerhead
Prior to 1992, most showerheads had flow rates of 5.5 gpm. so if you have an older showerhead, be aware you could improve efficiency considerably by replacing it with one with a lower flow rate. Modern low-flow showerheads can reduce water use by as much as 5 gallons a minute.
Newer showerheads have also been designed to overcome some of the complaints about low pressure associated with the first low-flow models, so that you don’t have to shower longer to wash away the soap or shampoo left by a wimpy stream of water. Current models are available in aerating or laminar flow designs. Aerating models add air with the spray of water to form a mist. Laminar-flow types shoot out individual water streams.
Water-Saving Tips
Some other tips for saving water when showering:
- Take shorter showers. Cutting five minutes off showering time with an older type showerhead can save 20 gallons.
- Affix an attachment behind the showerhead so you can restrict water flow while you’re lathering up, without the water temperature cooling off. Some newer models also have this feature.
- If you have to bathe, decrease the amount of water in the tub to 2-3 inches.
At Sobieski Systems, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about showerheads and other energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.