About 25% of the total water volume consumed in a home comes from the shower head. And the percentage may be higher if you usually take too long showers. Water is an indispensable resource and it’s necessary to preserve it for future generations.
If your monthly water consumption is higher than normal, you should act immediately to solve the problem. One way to do this is to install low flow shower heads in all your bathrooms.
If you’ve never heard of these gadgets and would like to learn more about them, you’re in the right place. Today we’ll share all the low flow shower head benefits with you.
What Is a Low Flow Shower Head?
Low flow shower heads consume 40% less water volume than regular shower heads. To do this, these devices use rubber washers known as flow restrictors. The flow restrictor decreases the pipe diameter and water flow, but also increases the pressure.
A regular shower head consumes about 2.5 gal/min at an average pressure of 80 psi. On the other hand, a low flow shower head consumes less than 2 gal/min at the same pressure. If all the US households used low flow shower heads, nearly 250 billion gallons of water would be saved annually.
If you want to know if your water consumption is excessive, do the following test. Fill out a 1-gal bucket with water from your shower. Use a stopwatch to determine the time it takes for the bucket to fill completely.
If it takes less than 15 seconds, the water flow is greater than 4 gal/min. In this case, it’s recommended to install low flow shower heads to tackle the issue. On the other hand, if the pressure is too low, there’s nothing to worry about.
In fact, it isn’t recommended to install low flow shower heads in homes with low water pressure. Doing this would extend the time you usually spend in each shower.
Low Flow Shower Head Benefits
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Reduce water consumption
As said before, low flow shower heads consume 40% less water volume than regular shower heads. In these times, sources of drinking water are increasingly scarce. So, it’s important to save water to guarantee the survival of future generations.
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Save energy
Water heaters consume too much energy. So, if you take hot showers too frequently, your electricity bills will be higher than normal.
Water heaters are controlled by a thermostat. The electrical resistance inside the device will heat up until the water inside has a suitable temperature. If a large water flow is going in and out, the heater will work too much.
Using low flow shower heads decreases the water output from the heater, helping to keep the water warm for longer. In this case, the electrical resistance won’t demand as much energy.
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Save money
This is perhaps one of the main reasons why people install low flow shower heads in their homes. In the United States and other countries, the costs associated with water treatment are very high. For that reason, water bills are also high.
Using low flow shower heads will help you have more money on your savings account, reducing your water consumption every month.
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Reduce toxic emissions
All heat emitting devices, such as stoves and water heaters, generate CO and CO2. Normally, CO2 is absorbed by plants. Then, it’s transformed into beneficial substances through photosynthesis. However, CO2 levels currently generated by humans are too high to be fully absorbed.
The excessive accumulation of CO2 and other gases in the atmosphere’s the main cause of global warming.
On the other hand, CO is a highly toxic gas for humans. It’s imperceptible, because it has no color, smell or taste. During cold winters, when people use water heaters more frequently, CO levels increase. In these cases, there’s a high risk of poisoning.
What People Don’t Know About Low Flow Shower Heads
Many believe that low flow shower heads decrease water pressure. But they’re wrong. As said before, the water restrictor they use helps increase water pressure. Also, low flow shower heads turn a water string into a uniform rain.
In addition, some low flow shower head models have filters that greatly improve water quality. For these and many other reasons, installing low flow shower heads at home is always a good idea.
Summary
As you can see, installing low flow shower heads at home is a great idea. In addition to helping you save money, they help save the planet. So, if you want a better future for humanity and the planet, make the change and replace your old shower heads with low flow models.
FAQs
Q. 1: Does low-flow mean less pressure?
Ans. No. Low flow shower heads use flow restrictors that increase water pressure. In fact, water flow and water pressure are two totally different concepts. The flow is related to the amount of water you receive from your pipe. Pressure is the force applied by water over a certain area.
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