According to the EPA, switching to a low-flow showerhead could save the average family 2,700 gallons of water a year.
Your shower is one of the most important parts of your home’s plumbing. In fact, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 17% of all indoor water use, in a home, is reserved to showers. For the average family, that is about 40 gallons of water per day. When it comes to your home’s water usage, it can really add up and have an impact on your pocketbook. Because showering is one of the leading ways we use water in our home, can switching to a low-flow showerhead save you money?
What is a Low-Flow Showerhead?
Prior to 1992, showerheads manufactured used over 5 gallons of water per minute, while those sold after 1992, use only 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) (this is the current standard today). Low-flow showerheads dispense only two gallons or less per minute.
Low-flow shower heads restrict the volume of water dispensed per minute through two different methods: an aerating spray (allowing air into the stream) and non-aerated spray (more pressurized bursts through smaller spouts). Low-flow showerheads today come in two types: laminar flow and aerating. Laminar flow heads produce separate streams of water, while aerating heads mix air and water to produce a mistier spray. By reducing the water flow, they also reduce the amount of energy required for a hot shower.
Having a low-flow showerhead should not mean low water pressure. With today’s technologies, low-flow showerheads are designed to deliver consistently strong pressure.
What Benefits Can a Low-Flow Showerhead Bring to Your Home?
Standards are high for low-flow showerheads, and mentioned above, they are expected to have the same spray intensity as standard showerheads. Low-flow showerheads can bring benefits to your home, without reducing their shower power.
– Decrease water consumption by 40% or more
– Lower energy and water costs
– Help conserve water
As mentioned, low-flow showerheads not only reduce water expenses, they can lower your energy bills as well. According to the EPA, switching to a low-flow showerhead could save the average family 2,700 gallons of water a year. These water savings reduce demands on water heaters, so they 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.
Can Switching to a Low-Flow Showerhead Save you Money?
As referenced above, switching to a low-flow showerhead can save you money on energy and water costs. Depending on your family’s size and how often showers are taken around your home, the savings could really add up. You can save about 60% every month on water expenses, by switching from a 2.5 gpm to a low-flow showerhead.
Buffalo Bathroom Plumbing
There’s arguably no room more essential to your home than the bathroom. That’s why, at Reimer Home Services, our plumbers are bathroom plumbing repair experts, available Day or Night to help you out.
We repair and install sinks, showers, showerheads, tubs, toilets, and more. When a faucet, fixture, drain, or showerhead in your bathroom needs the attention and care of an expert, we’re here and ready to go.
For everything from shower drain cleaning to new toilet installation in Buffalo, you can count on us. Call us or request service online to get started.
