Yes, research shows that showerheads can save up to 9 gallons of water in a 12-minute shower period. However, to accomplish these results, you need to replace your current standard showerhead with a flow rate of less than 2.5 GPM (gallons per minute). I recommend using the showerhead from the image below because it is inexpensive and is rated at 1.8 GPM, and it will provide the results I mentioned above.
If replacing the current showerhead is not an option, I recommend installing a water flow control valve between the shower arm and the showerhead. (In the image below) you can see the water flow control valve; this valve is great because now you have quick control of the water that goes through the showerhead.
Regardless of whether you have a water-saving showerhead or not, the use of a flow control valve gives you the ability to easily adjust the water flow without altering the already desired water temperature setting. It is a straightforward process to install.
Are Water Saving Shower Heads Worth it?
The new low-flow showerheads efficiently used two and a half gallons per minute or less than the six gallons per minute of the old showerheads. So, your shower represents another opportunity to save water. Low-flow showerheads have a bad reputation for low mist in a shower. Still, the reality is satisfactory spray and significant water savings. It allows you to cut water use in half and save the energy that would have been used to heat the additional water.
For more on what exactly is a toilet trap and how does it work read the full article.
What to Look for When Buying a Water Saving Shower Head?
When you buy a low-flow showerhead, always look for the WaterSense label. This label means that instead of using three or four gallons of the old showerheads you use, you now use two gallons or less per minute. So it’s a significant reduction in the water when you look at it throughout the year. You can see a significant saving on the energy side in addition to the water-saving.
Related What is a bathroom fan for: Everything you need to know
For more on what is a bathroom fan for read the full article.
How to Know if You Have a Low Flow Shower Head
After research, I found this simple way to test your showerhead’s current flow and offer suggestions for a replacement. Many homes wastewater because their showers have too high a flow rate, so it is straightforward to test your shower’s current flow rate. All you need is a jug or bucket and a timer, and here’s how to do it as follows:
So first, what you’re going to do is turn on the showerhead and set the timer, and put the jug under the showerhead for 10 seconds. We’re looking to detect the gallons per minute consumption; a two gallon per minute or less is considered a low-flow showerhead. So you’re going to take the water you collected in your jug and pour it into a measuring cup. Anything under 5 cups of water is 2 gallons per minute or less. Anything over 5 cups of water in your jug should replace the showerhead.
What is the Best Shower Head to Save Water?
I recommend installing the SparkPod Showerhead rated at 1.8 GPM. They come in a seven-color choice to match your bathroom features’ color design. There is also a handheld showerhead that can be obtained; plus, as I mentioned earlier, they are pretty inexpensive. So it is straightforward to change the showerhead, which is the type of showerhead that people love.
These new showerheads are fantastic. In the past, low-flow showerheads had some pressure issues. You’ll need some plumber’s Teflon tape and adjustable wrenches to replace the showerhead. Switching to a low-flow showerhead will reduce your energy use and conserve water. The savings from doing so will quickly pay for themselves. Another factor to contemplate is that if you run out of hot water when people in your house shower, this showerhead can give you a little boost.
How to Save Water at Home: Best Practices
When it comes to saving water at home, you’ll get the most bang for your buck when you replace your lawn with a water-smart landscape. Still, you can also save a lot of water indoors with technologies that are easy to install and often easy on your wallet. Whether you’re replacing a two-dollar faucet aerator or contemplating the purchase of a major appliance, here’s what you need to consider:
How much water you’ll save, how long the purchase will take to pay for itself, and, ultimately, you’ll like it. Many of today’s technologies can make your life more convenient and efficient and will fit your budget. So, let’s review some important questions and considerations that will help lower home water consumption as follows: Replace aerators, replace toilet flappers, replace old appliances, and install a home water recirculating system.
1. Replacing Aerators
Faucet aerators are an inexpensive way to convert water usage by 50 percent or more but still provide a good flow in your sink. Aerators are quickly bolted to your existing faucet. They are inexpensive, between two and ten dollars each, depending on the features. You’ll save about 1,000 gallons of water a year per aerator and reduce the energy cost of heating water by 50 percent, which means the aerators pay for themselves in a few months.
When Buying Water Saving Aerators
Look for the WaterSense label and the 1.5 gallons per minute logo. Those are the two things that indicate a low-flow aerator. Water-saving aerators are the cheapest and easiest solution to save water in the house. Again, aerators can reduce water use from 2.2 gallons per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute, even though water flow seems the same, so there is no change. Still, you can save thousands of gallons; you can save energy.
2. Replace Toilet Flapper
A new flapper can help you save half to one and a half gallons per discharge, which adds up to thousands of gallons per year. Flappers cost a few dollars each, but the sound of silence instead of a continually refilling toilet is priceless. You don’t have to flush the toilet with money to improve the next waste of water in your house. All word games aside, toilets account for more than one-quarter of indoor water use, and a leaky toilet can lose hundreds of gallons in a single day. A worn toilet flapper in your tank could be causing the leak; toilet flappers last a few years and deteriorate after that.
When Buying a Toilet Flapper
As I mentioned earlier, by changing the toilet flapper, which is the most significant leak source, you can save a lot of water all year round. There are two ways to change the flapper: the first is to turn off the toilet’s water and take the old flapper to the hardware store. The second is to find a new flapper that matches the old one and take it home to put on a new one.
The other way is that if you don’t want to turn off the water, is to go to the store first, maybe you know the model of your toilet and can find it. Many manufacturers have a flapper that goes with them; for example, a Kohler flapper would go with a Kohler toilet. If not, and you don’t have a match, you can get a universal flapper. Check the flapper’s backlists for all the different manufacturers and compare them to the toilet type you have. Still, the important thing is that you have a flapper that fits the toilet well. If not, the toilet will leak continuously after that.
When Buying a New Water Save Toilet
Always look for the WaterSense label to make sure you buy a high-efficiency toilet. Suppose you’re worried that a low-flush toilet won’t perform as well as a high-efficiency one, please don’t be. Toilets must meet performance standards and perform better than older toilets. Replacing an old toilet can save the average family of four up to 25,000 gallons a year.
Those water savings mean the toilet pays for itself in a few years, and that’s money in the bank. If you can’t identify toilet leaks and have an old toilet with increasing repair costs, consider a fresh start with a new high-efficiency toilet. You will flush the toilet almost 140,000 times in your lifetime. So it makes sense to choose a water-efficient model that uses between 1.1 and 1.6 gallons per flush compared to three gallons or more for older models.
3. Replace Old Appliances
Appliance upgrades are another great way to save water indoors. They’re sure to cost a lot more than a faucet aerator or toilet flapper. Still, you’ll experience significant water and energy savings in the long run. For example, an Energy Star-rated washing machine uses up to 50 percent less water and 50 percent less energy per load than a standard machine.
When Buying New Appliances to Save Water
When you buy a new appliance, whether it’s a washing machine or a dishwasher, you want to look for the Energy Star label. The Energy Star label means that there are savings on the energy side and savings on the waterside. So in a washing machine, you will see energy savings in the water and therefore less wear and tear on the clothes because there is less and less water inside.
With a dishwasher, what you want to look for again is the Energy Star label, and what that means is that anywhere from two to four gallons of water are used per load. Which is significantly less than if you wash dishes obviously by hand and even less than dishwashers made ten or fifteen years ago. For large appliances like dishwashers, start your product search and find consumer tips at energystar.gov.
4. Install a Home Water Recirculating System
These systems allow you to quickly access and save hot water, no matter how far away the fixtures are from the water heater. Installation can be a bit complicated, so you may want to consult a professional. Always look for water-smart products by searching for the WaterSense seal of approval.
Start your online search at epa.gov / WaterSense shower faucets, toilets, and even irrigation controllers. The WaterSense seal has met the water efficiency standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Whether you spend a few dollars, water-smart can save thousands of gallons a year, and you can live a little easier knowing that.
Related
- Read the full article about whether dishwashers can heat the water and how they operate.
- Also, you can read this helpful article that covers whether the water heater is considered an appliance or not.
- And you can learn more about if pressure washing increases the water bill.
