Longer showers with less water usage? Yes please

Love a long hot shower but feel guilty doing so?

One too many zeros on your water bill?

Although we don’t condone wasting water, we do love saving people money, so looking into installing a low flow showerhead option can help you change all that. 

Low flow showerheads are all the rage as we move towards a time where water is precious and climate change is fast changing the world’s landscape as we know it.

It can be hard to choose the right low flow option and style to best satisfy your needs. But what isn’t hard is the choice to save both truck loads of water and money at the same time.

Check out our guide below for more information on how a brand-new low flow shower head can help change your life.

Why a low flow showerhead?

So, you may be thinking to yourself, why a low flow showerhead? Are they even worth my time?

Well first and foremost installing a low flow showerhead will immediately cut your water consumption in half. The average Australian taking a 5-minute shower daily with an old style high pressure shower head uses around 36,500 litres of water per year. That equates to around 19 litres of water per minute. In comparison a low flow shower head that averages 9 litres of water per minute uses around 16,500 litres of water per year. That’s an average saving of a whopping 20,000 litres of water a year!

Just let that sink in for a minute.

With climate change currently on our doorstep and water conservation more important than ever, it’s individual acts like this done collectively that help reduce the overall strain on the environment.

So, we know that low flow shower heads are more environmentally friendly but with lower flow comes lower water usage – lower water usage means less dollars on your water bill, and more money in your pocket. Considering you can save over half of your water usage per person, per shower, just imagine how much the entire family could save.    

It’s great to note that showers also require energy to heat the water. By reducing your water usage, you are also reducing your energy consumption, therefore significantly lowering the cost of your electricity or gas bill.

Low flow showerhead options – How they work

Low flow showerheads have special mechanisms built into the head unit designed to reduce water waste and usage by restricting water flow.

There are two main types of showerheads available – Laminar and aerating showerheads, with both providing slightly different experiences for their users.  

Laminar showerheads work by restricting your water flow and creating individual streams of water. Some brands are adjustable, allowing you to adjust your flow rate to suit your preference. They provide a harder, massage style experience and although they may cost a little more, they are known to reduce your energy costs by retaining water temperature better. 

Aerating showerheads unlike the laminar have inbuilt mechanisms that blend water and oxygen to create a softer mist like spray. Thus, in turn producing larger water drops, giving the impression of a larger flow rate. They are said to still provide the same shower experience you love, while using 50% less water than their older counterparts.

Other impressive features of later model showerheads worth looking into are low flow shower heads with a pause mode option. Instead of letting precious water go to waste while you’re soaping up, washing your hair, or shaving, pause mode slows the water to barely a trickle while still maintaining water temperature, until you are ready to resume.

Handheld showerheads are another interesting commodity that allows for more flexibility in your showering experience. Generally fixed to the wall via a clip that allows the showerhead to detach when directly cleaning certain parts of the body. These types of showerheads are excellent for people with mobility issues, disabilities or others just looking for a more direct, deeper clean.

How to choose the right showerhead for you?

It’s never easy choosing a new showerhead for your home. Although most of it comes down to personal preference, there are also a few other factors worth taking into consideration.

Showerhead material

Low-cost showerheads tend to be made of cheap plastic and more susceptible to leaks and other issues. That said, they can still provide an adequate experience, but the durability is questionable. We advise purchasing an aluminium or composite material option which provides stronger and longer lasting units. Although more expensive initially, stronger components allow these units to generally last longer than their plastic alternatives.

Flow rate

You want to make sure to pick a low flow showerhead with a flow rate adequate for your needs. These details can be found on the packaging and are measured in litres per minute. Low flow shower head’s water output generally ranges from 6 to 10 litres per minute.

It’s important to consider your home’s water pressure as well when deciding which option to choose. The last thing you want is a brand-new showerhead but realise your home’s water pressure is not compatible to effectively use the unit. If you’re having issues, contact your local plumber and they can help guide you along the way.

Performance

Most of us as Australians love a good hot shower. So, it’s important to install a showerhead that has the features you seek, effectively conserves water, and creates a good quality showering experience. A lovely hot shower in the morning or after a long hard day at work is the stuff dreams are made of. So why not turn that dream into a reality by choosing the right low flow option to satisfy your needs.

What does a low flow shower head installation involve?

Installing a new low flow shower head can be relatively easy if the size and thread of the new unit matches the old one. If this is the case, you can simply screw off the old unit with some adjustable pliers then screw in the new low flow option. If you are after something a little more substantial that may require some more heavy lifting, you may need to call in your local plumber to give you a hand to get the job done properly. As soon as the new low flow showerhead is in, the savings begin, so it’s a good idea to start thinking about purchasing one sooner rather than later.

Low Flow showerheads have been proven to be highly effective in regulating your water usage while still providing a good quality showering experience. Considering showers account for around 20-30% of your total household water usage, installing a low flow option will not only conserve a massive amount of water, but save you a lot of dollars on your future water and energy bills. It’s important to do our part to help conserve water, be more sustainable and give the environment the best chance of survival.

For help with Installation, choosing the right low flow showerhead option for you or any other plumbing and electrical needs, give us a call at No Probs Plumbing and Electrical on 9315 5545.