Shower Heads

You can thank the new technologies available for the selection of water saving shower heads that feel good when you use them, and still reduce your energy bills and save water. Low-flow shower heads really have gotten a bad reputation, since the original models just restricted your output of water, or added air to the water stream. These systems did save water, but they didn't give people a shower that was satisfying.

Now it's different, and the ultra-efficient shower heads you can purchase today cut down on energy consumption and water use both, since you also save money on heating water. But the spray is comfortable, and powerful enough to easily rinse, when you take a shower.

In the early 1990's, shower heads routinely pumped out nearly six gallons of water a minute, which used about twenty percent of your home's total water budget. Since then, federal laws have cut the amount of water used to 2.5 gallons per minute, but if you buy a newer model, it will do even better than that. The new technology is actually borrowed from the windshield washers on your car. This technology can make 1.6 gallons per minute refreshing and drenching. This is over a third less than the lower-rated models of low-flow shower heads that are still available today.

Some companies who manufacture water saving shower heads use what is called laminar flow, putting dozens of water streams on you, rather than a spray that is aerated, which makes it feel like more water. These models are not cheap, but they can easily pay for themselves with the money they will save you on your water and electric bills.

As a rule, replacing your old shower head with a water saving model might be just as easy as changing a light bulb, but you should check your plumbing first. You don't want to install a low flow shower head only to be hit with icy water or a scalding blast. Since less water flows through your new shower head, sudden temperature fluctuations can feel more extreme. If your home was built more recently than the middle of the 1990's, your plumbing probably contains a valve that compensates for rapid temperature variations. These will also protect you from sudden water temperature changes when someone flushes while you're showering.

If your shower has an older type two-handled faucet, it probably doesn't have this ATC valve, and most new two-handle systems don't, either. If you have either of these types of plumbing, don't just screw on a water saving shower head – that is not a good idea. You actually will need to remove the outdated type of faucet and install a  newer valve with your new shower head.

Sometimes, the ATC valve won't work at its best even if you have the proper plumbing, when you install a low flow head. They are only rated for the flow rate that is standard for their time. So if you're not sure whether your old ATC valve will work, just purchase water saving shower heads and valves from the same company, so you know they'll work well together.